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Limavady 1st XV v Strabane (192 photos)
Report by Paul McIntyre
Qualifying League Section 2
Christmas time is traditionally a time for derby fixtures and this year was no different as Strabane were the visitors to the John Hunter Grounds. The fixture had added spice as both these sides occupy the bottom two spots in the league. A win for the visitors would bring Limavady into a relegation dogfight. A home victory would almost certainly see Strabane make an immediate return to section 3.
After taking a heavy beating in their last outing against Grosvenor two weeks ago, the management team were looking for a positive reaction from the players. And a positive reaction is what they got. Straight from the start the home side ran the ball at the Strabane defence with Jamie Millar, Clive Scott and Richard Robinson all breaking the game line with the latter being tackled into touch just short of the five metre line. From the resulting lineout loose head prop Scott made another charge for the line and popped a pass to the supporting No 8, Lee Clyde who touched down in the corner. Although the conversion was missed, this was the just the start the home side wanted. But with the wind in their backs it was Strabane who were next to attack.
After a period of sustained pressure the visitors were duly rewarded for their efforts when the Strabane out half kicked a penalty to reduce the gap to 2 points. The home responded to this in positive fashion with both Jamie Miller and Richard Robinson going close. But on 23 minutes the stubborn away defence was breached when a back line move involving Hunter and Robinson fed Full back Haslett who touched down in the corner. Greg Jordan kicked a difficult conversion from the side line for a nine point lead. The home side kept up the pressure for the remainder of the half and following a lineout five meters from the try line tight head prop Andrew Carmichael touched down for Limavady’s third try of the day.
This left the half time score 17-3 to the home side, and also one touchdown away from a vital bonus point. But Strabane refused to lie down and came out fighting in the second half. The more experienced visiting pack started to dominate the set piece and were camped in the Limavady half for the first ten minutes of the half. But credit to the home defence who held firm and showed great discipline to deny Strabane from getting into the endzone and a score that would bring them back into the game. A penalty awarded to the home side allowed out-half Faulkner to send the ball back into Strabane territory and give the Roesiders the chance to seek a try scoring bonus point. The all important fourth try eventually arrived on 73 mins with the ball moved out to the right wing and Richard Robinson broke two tackles to touch down in the corner to the delight of the large home crowd.
The last play of the day resulted in the score of the day. Loose head prop Clive Scott picked the ball up just inside the Strabane half and went on a powerful rampaging run. With the Strabane defence unable to stop him Clive just quicker and quicker the closer he got to the line and he didn’t stop until he touched down under the posts for a most powerful individual score. Greg Jordan added the extras and left the final score, Limavady 29-3 Strabane.
Team: M. Haslett, R. Robinson, G. Jordan, C. Hunter, R. Elliott, L. Faulkner, J. Millar. C. Scott, I. Campbell, A. Carmichael, J. Purcell, M. McCollum, P. Semple. B. Hamilton. L.Clyde.
Next game is on Saturday 4th January in the Powerade Towns Cup. Limavady travel to current Section 1 leaders and Al-Ireland Junior Cup finalists Clogher Valley.
