In a wind affected Qualifying League 2 encounter at Lisburn the home team came out with a deserved if hard earned win over rivals Larne, thus reversing the result of their first game last September. The Tata Steel sponsored locals took first advantage of the strong breeze gusting down the pitch and on seven minutes went into a 5-0 lead after Lisburn stole a defensive lineout. FOR PICTURES CLICK HERE courtesy of Tom Porter Photography. Right winger Chris Nimmon, promoted from the second XV for this game, got possession and ran hard into the corner to score the try. While Lisburn had the wind advantage it was Larne who fronted up more in this first half, probably down to the fact that Lisburn were playing their first competitive fixture in five weeks and the rustiness showed. Larne played with gusto into the wind and Lisburn were lucky not to give away scores to the scavenging visitor’s pack. However, the Lisburn defence stood firm with Tommy Thompson, also promoted from the seconds, to the fore. Two penalties were exchanged in the last ten minutes of the half to leave the interval score at 8-3 to Lisburn. The home support were rightly worried whether a five point lead would be sufficient in the conditions.
However, Lisburn turned around with a new attitude in the second half. They began to compete strongly for the ball and on ten minutes following a fierce ruck in the corner, full back Scott Hughes took a great pass from his scrumhalf brother Wayne and the former was helped over the line with support from the Lisburn back row. Lisburn now led 13-3 and were coming more and more into the game. In the final quarter Larne unluckily lost a forward to injury and this seemed to sap their energy but they still competed strongly following the introduction of uncontested scrums. On the 30 minute mark, following a great slashing 30 metre break by Lisburn winger Adam Melville, the move broke down but Larne infringed and Scott Hughes stepped up to punish them once again with a well taken penalty. This was the final score as Lisburn hung on to prevent Larne scoring and obtaining a bonus point.
Next Saturday Lisburn host Clogher Valley in the second round of the Towns Cup and will be asked by their coaches to up the intensity level by several notches. Lisburn 2s in the meantime beat Larne 2s by 28-26 at Larne and the 3s overcame Ballynahinch 5s 17-8, a satisfactory haul from their three games.
