With the 1st XV not having a game it was left to the 2nd and 3rd XVs to carry the flag as the new league season got underway.
2nd XV
Holywood 2nd XV didn’t get the ideal start to their season on Saturday, after being beaten by Randalstown 57-3. Despite the wet weather during the warm up, the sky cleared over Randalstown for a potentially pleasant day for rugby.
Featuring four debutants for the seconds; prop Paul Ashfield, second row Sean Hunter, centre Mike Silvester and wing Dan Ellis; it was going to be difficult to build a cohesive team from the outset. The pack performed well, if a little shaky at times in the loose play. The backline was where the inexperience showed and Randalstown used this to their advantage.
The solitary points scored for Holywood came from a drop goal by out-half Robert Cooper, on the 60 minute mark. Despite the score line, there were a few positives to be taken from the game. Excellent fitness told and every player was fully committed for the 80 minutes. As this was the first game of the season, it’ll just be a case of blowing out the rest of the old cobwebs before the next match.
3rd XV
The thirds entertained Cooke 4s at Spafield and, in what was a hugely entertaining match, Holywood ran out victors on the right side of a 41 – 23 score line. Although Holywood had taken an early advantage it wasn’t really until the last 10 minutes of the first half that their dominance of the game actually got turned into points with Samisoni Raloka taking the lion’s share of Holywood’s 24 – 11 half time lead.
Despite captain Dan Browning’s wise counsel during the interval Holywood were immediately under the cosh at the restart from a rejuvenated Cooke side. It was a full ten minutes before Holywood were able to break the stranglehold courtesy of a try from Matt Mullin who had been lurking around the right wing waiting for a pass. When the pass did come he still had to run in from 40 yards and beat the cover defence to score.
That unconverted score seemed to break Cooke’s resolve and three more tries and one conversion followed, including another try for Samisoni Raloka to take the game beyond Cooke’s reach. A spell on the sidelines for two of Holywood’s players courtesy of the referee, and Samisoni Raloka and Richard Wooley know the players concerned very well, let Cooke come back with a couple of late tries to end the game at 41 – 23.
Considering that, due to a mix-up, Holywood played with only 13 players and for periods of the second half had only 12 on the pitch, this was a great team performance and start to the third’s league campaign.
CLUB NOTES
This week sees the start of league action for the 1st XV with the visit of Randalstown to Kerr Park. The seconds will be entertaining Grosvenor at Spafield whilst the thirds will do battle away to North Down rivals Donaghadee. All the matches kick off at 2.30pm so fell free to come along and support any of the teams.
With the season now getting underway it would be an opportune time for all those who want to join us and play rugby to get themselves down to training on Monday and Wednesday nights. Holywood is a great local club with a lot to offer any player.
