Sat 12th Oct, 2:30pm. Civil Service 0 – 18 OPHIR R.F.C.
Unbeaten run continues
by Ron Bell
With almost 140 points scored in their opening 3 games of the season, Ophir Firsts took a great deal of confidence to the magnificent surroundings
of Stormont Estate to meet Civil Service in the Qualifying League. And in the early stages of the game, it seemed the confidence was well justified. Ophir, supported by Biffa, took the initiative and dominated the scrum and line out. An early penalty attempt by full back David Walker was missed but he made up for it with a similar effort, this time successful, 5 minutes later. Then came seeming disaster for Ophir. In Services first foray into the opposition half, Ophir’s prop was knocked unconscious and there followed a 25 minute delay in the game whilst he received the necessary medical assistance. Having taken control of the set pieces of play the ensuing uncontested scrums worked to Ophir’s disadvantage, compounded by the loss of a player. But they stuck to their task and still managed to retain the initiative. From a short penalty kicked to touch, Ophir won the line out and drove the Civil Service pack to the line for scrum half Karl Davis to touch down. The conversion was missed. And the visitors came close to adding to their score on the stroke of half time when Dee O’Reilly was narrowly beaten to the ball from a chip ahead.
From the restart Civil Service began to make good ground with the ball; on the Ophir 22 they swept the ball to the left wing and only a last ditch tackle put the ball into touch and allowed Ophir to clear their lines. Playing against 14 men, it seemed likely that Service would spray the ball wide as often as possible but instead they continually switched to the inside allowing the capable Ophir defence to smother the attacks. Following a bout of aimless kicking from both sides, Ophir got to the Service 22 and David Walker converted a penalty for offside. Leading just 11 – 0, there was no room for complacency in the Ophir team as Civil Service strove to break down the defence. But Ophir held firm and in the dying seconds Alan Davison added another try at the touch flag, converted by David Walker to take the final score to Civil Service 0, Ophir 18.
Next Saturday, 19 October, Ophir Firsts are away to Belfast High School Former Pupils; the Seconds have a home game against Ballymoney Fifths.
