Last Saturday Ophir’s Second XV supported by MCW Properties and Biffa Waste, visited Dromore to meet their Thirds in the Minor League. Having attained a level of consistent results – every match lost this season – the handful of travelling support w
Twenty minutes into the game almost nothing had stirred up the spectators, other than a missed Dromore penalty attempt. Then Ophir centre, Alan O’Neill, showing typical tenacity, broke clear from a tackle and took the ball up to the Dromore line, only stopped by two of the opposition hanging on to his back to drag him down. A Dromore penalty from the ensuing scrum cleared the danger. On the half hour the Dromore open side flanker had to leave the pitch with what looked like a serious ankle injury but he returned 5 minutes later to witness his out half kicking a fine penalty to put the home team in the lead. Then on the stroke of half time the Ophir forwards got their act together and took possession well into the Dromore 22 where scrum half Sean Keenan forced his way over the line to touch down mid way between the posts and the touchline. Alan Davidson converted well and at the break Ophir led 7 points to 3.
The second half was barely under way when Alan Davidson stretched Ophir’s lead with a penalty. Then, with prop simon foster sin binned for a late tackle, Dromore took full advantage and their out half, the victim of the tackle, got his revenge and was unstoppable as he burst through the Ophir defence. The conversion was missed but Ophir’s lead was cut to 2 points. However, the Ophir pack was marginally dominating their opponents and were retaining good possession through recycled ball. Ably led by second row John Condell, they took play right to the Dromore line and Captain, Chris Phillips couldn’t be stopped as he crashed over in the corner. Ophir hooker, Ryan Jenkins was selected for a yellow card and while he was off the pitch it took some tremendous tackling to prevent Dromore from scoring. Tension was high, and twice Dromore were over the Ophir line only for the referee to judge that the ball had been held up from grounding. The final whistle was a mighty relief for the Ophir support but at last the Seconds had notched up a League win, 15 points to 8.
