The first of the Nutty Krust semi-finals took place at Portadown Rugby Club when Malone Rugby Club U19’s played Carrickfergus U19’s in front of an enthusiastic group of supporters on Tuesday evening.
It was the Carrickfergus team that controlled the opening stages of the game and raced into a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Adam Kendall converted a penalty opportunity to give his team a 3-0 lead after fifteen minutes of play. The Carrickfergus team continued to apply pressure on the Malone team and extended their lead to 10-0 five minutes later when Jack Miller took advantage of a Malone clearance kick being charged down and gather the ball to run in for a try. The try was converted by Adam Kendall.
The Malone U19 team, having already reached the final of the Ireland U19 League final, had to up their game if they were to reach their second final of the season. They scored a try on twenty five minutes through Lorcan McGillion to reduce the arrears to 10-5. Just before the interval the Malone team took the lead for the first time in the game when Tim Durkam ran in for a try which Lorcan McGillion converted to give his Malone team a 12-10 interval lead.
The Malone team made good use of an experienced bench in the second half. Ulster U19 player, Jay Malcolm, came on in the centre while Ireland U19 player, Chris Taylor, came on at the tight head prop position. It was clever play from Chris Taylor, fifteen minutes into the second half, which paved the opportunity for Philip Martin, the Malone centre, to run in for a try. Lorcan McGillion was again successful with his conversion to increase the Malone lead to 19-10.
Despite the best efforts of players such as Ryan McGonigle, Mark Ferris, Colin Taylor and the impressive Adam Reid, the Carrickfergus team experienced difficulty in coming to terms with the pace and power of the Malone attack. Philip Martin scored his second try of the game after sixty five minutes. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Malone team now had a 24-10 lead. With the final play of the game the Malone team completed a successful evening’s work when Conleth McGillion ran in for his team’s fifth try of the game. His brother, Lorcan, converted the try to see his team safely through to the final of the Nutty Krust U19 Tournament with their well-deserved 31-10 victory.
Following the game the Man of the Match Award was presented to Adam Reid, the Carrickfergus RFC U19 scrum half, by Clive Bowles, Manager of the Ulster U19 team.
The Malone RFC U19 team take with them the best wishes of all involved in the Nutty Krust U19 Tournament as they travel to Naas on Saturday 28th April to play St Mary’s/ Shannon U19’s in the All Ireland League U19 Final.
The Malone team will return to Chamber’s Park on Wednesday 2nd May to play the winners of the second semi-final in the Nutty Krust U19 Tournament, Banbridge RFC U19’s or Ballynahinch U19’s.
