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The fourth game of the 2010/11 Nutty Krust U19 Tournament took place at a rain soaked Portadown RFC on Wednesday evening. The teams involved were Dundalk U19’s and Instonian’s U 19’s. This game was the inaugural appearance of both these clubs since the Nutty Krust tournament became an age grade competition. Despite the difficult overhead conditions both teams set out to provide an entertaining spectacle for supporters from both clubs. The Dundalk visitors started strongly and asked questions of the Instonian’s team. The Belfast boys thwarted the initial waves of attack and then started to put their own stamp on the game. Midway through the first half Mark Gribben kicked his team into a 3-0 lead when he converted a penalty opportunity. Four minutes later he doubled the score with another penalty kick following a Dundalk infringement at a ruck.
Just on the stroke of half time Mark took full advantage of quick thinking from his scrum half to outwit the Dundalk defence and touch down under the posts for a try. Mark converted the try to see his team into a 13-0 half time lead. With the wind in their backs in the second half and rallied by a half time talk from their captain, Conor Beattie, the Dundalk team started in a very determined fashion. They pressurised the Instonian’s defence into giving away a penalty in front of the posts. Ultan Murphy calmly struck the ball over the bar to reduce the arrears to 13-3. Both teams were intent on attacking at every opportunity and both defences had to be well organised. Midway through the second half Mark Gribben made a great break deep into Dundalk territory. He cleverly off loaded the ball to the supporting William Loane who was delighted to run the ball in from twenty metres. The conversion was missed but the Belfast team had opened up an 18-3 lead. The Dundalk team was not overawed and took play deep intro Instonian’s territory. Clever play, involving Conor Beattie and his back row colleagues, presented their hard working scrum half, Padraig Conroy, with a try scoring opportunity. He did not disappoint and finished the score off with great aplomb. The try was converted by Ultan Murphy to take the score to 18-10. Towards the end of the game the overhead conditions deteriorated but both teams still attempted to play positive rugby. The Dundalk team finished strongly but could find no way through a very well disciplined Instonian’s defence which ensured the Belfast team celebrated their hard earned 18-10 victory at the no-side whistle. The Instonian’s team move into the second round with a game against Armagh/Monaghan on April 12th. At the post match function the Dundalk captain, Conor Beattie, was presented with his “Man of the Match” award by the Chairman of the Ulster Branch Youth Committee, Bobby Stewart.
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