Nutty Krust U18 Tournament Dromore v Malone Quarter-Final Report 18th March 2015
The second quarter-final game in the Nutty Krust 2014/15 tournament took place at Chamber’s Park on Wednesday 18th March when Malone U18’s met Dromore U18’s in a game in which the Dromore team recorded a comfortable 36-0 victory.
Both teams were encouraged to play positive rugby with referee, Christopher Lough, using the advantage law to good effect. The game started with a lot of time spent in the middle third of the pitch. Both teams were determined to play positively but the defences were well organised and both teams were forced into conceding possession at times. Ryan Hughes and Matthew McMasters got through a lot of work for the Dromore team with Nathan Graham. Jack McCarthy and Jack Magee impressing for the Malone team.
Ten minutes into the game, the Malone team was taking advantage of good possession in the Dromore half. Unfortunately for Malone, an attempted “skip” pass was intercepted by Marcus Heath. Marcus set off for the Malone line and, despite being chased down by Niall McCarthy; he managed to score a try just to the right of the posts. Adam McDonald added the conversion which gave the Co Down team a 7-0 lead.
Malone came back strongly but could find no way through a dogged Dromore defence, a defence that was to give nothing away all night. Dromore turned a Malone attack over and took play deep into Malone territory. They forced the Malone defence into giving away a series of penalties, one of which Adam McDonald converted, to extend the Dromore lead to 10-0.
Just before the break, Kellam Travers took advantage of some great attacking play from the Dromore team. He was on hand to touch down for a try, which Adam McDonald converted, to give his team a 17-0 lead at the break.
Malone started the second half really well but could still not find any way through the resolute Dromore defence. The Dromore team broke out of defence and from a penalty, awarded following the collapse of a maul; they ended up with a lineout on the Malone 5 metre line. Good lineout ball, off the top from Matthew McMasters, was used well by the Dromore backs. Marcus Heath ran a great line and took two defenders with him as he touched down for a try. Adam McDonald added the extras to put his team into a 24-0 lead, five minutes into the second half.
The game then became somewhat scrappy for the next ten minutes with a number of delays due to minor injuries. Midway through the second half things livened up when Adam McDonald made a telling break from his own half. Determined Malone defence saw him stopped on their 22m line but good use of quick ruck ball was rewarded when Matthew McMasters crashed over for an unconverted try to put the Dromore team into a 29-0 lead.
Close to the full time whistle, James Milligan took advantage of a tiring Malone defence to touch down for a try under the posts. TJ Morris, making a cameo appearance in the game, added the extras to secure the 36-0 win for the Dromore U18 team.
Following the game, Jonny Gillespie, the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Manager, presented the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match” Award to Matthew McMasters, the Dromore U18 2nd Row forward
The third quarter-final game in the Nutty Krust 204/15 tournament will take place at Portadown RFC on Wednesday 25th march when Rainey RFC U18’s play Randalstown RFC U18’s. This game is scheduled to kick off at 7=45pm.
