Lisburn 2s 43 – Clogher Valley 2s 15
Following their good win over Banbridge 3s the previous week, Lisburn 2s continued their excellent form last Saturday when overcoming the visitors from Clogher Valley. Lisburn got off to a great start when a slicing run by winger Adam Melville, following some great handling by the pack, produced a fine try. However, straight from the re-start the Valley were back on terms at 5-5 after a quick surge upfield caught the home defence lacking. After this hectic first five minutes, the game then settled down as the two packs sized each other up but it was Lisburn who seemed to be getting the more go forward ball and at the end of the first quarter, second row Alan Hughes drove right through the heart of a Clogher ruck to score from five metres out. Within minutes his partner in the second row, Andrew Barron, making a welcome and impressive comeback after long term injury, increased the Lisburn score with a well taken try and No 8, Andrew Coffey kicked the conversion to make it 17-5. Winger Adam Melville was having a great game following his recovery from injury and he was next on the score sheet following a mazy run from his own half. Another Coffey conversion brought up the half time score with Lisburn well in command at 24 points to 5.
The second half saw a resurgent Clogher Valley putting in a strong effort and they were rewarded when their prop drove over through some weak Lisburn tackling to make it 24-10. After ten minutes, most of which was played inside the Lisburn 22 metre line, Lisburn broke out and outhalf Owen Hilary gained possession on the half way line. He ran diagonally across the pitch to round the visitor’s defence and then straightened up to carve through the Clogher mid field and score. Once again Coffey converted to restore the margin. This was followed by a scything break by centre Richard Kindred, also making his seasonal debut, and he used his speed to score at the posts. The Coffey conversion widened the gap to 38-10.
Clogher Valley, though effectively out of the game at this stage, never gave up and their hooker got on the end of a tap penalty to drive over unhindered by any Lisburn tackling to make it 38-15. Lisburn finished the game off shortly afterwards with another Melville spectacular when he waltzed down the pitch for another try, leaving would-be tacklers in his wake. Coffey failed to maintain his fine kicking form in missing the conversion but Lisburn were now 43-15 ahead and in total command.
This was an excellent performance by the 2s and with many seasoned performers now coming back to complement the larger than normal number of new recruits in the Lisburn ranks the future looks bright. Selection will be interesting over the next few weeks as the coaches perm through their options. However, presence on the training park has to be a necessity for putting oneself in contention for promotion up the ranks.
