Ophir RFC 1st XV got their league season started at Magowan Park on Saturday 10th September with a home fixture against Ballyshannon.
Hopes for a successful season were high under new coach Ken Campbell and despite a deluge of rain before kick off the home side started brightly. From the start the Ophir pack were dominating the set pieces, consistently driving the Ballyshannon pack backwards on their scrums and winning clean ball at the lineout. The Ophir backline were also playing an open and attacking game, running at the Ballyshannon defence on every opportunity and after some dynamic forward play the backs were able to take an early opportunity.
CLICK HERE then scroll down FOR 50+ Pictures.
Neil Gray was having an outstanding game from No 8 and it was from one of his penetrating runs from the base of a scrum that set up the first try. The Ophir pack carried the momentum forward into the oppositions 22 before the ball was spun wide to David Walker to step in off his wing and score his first try for 2 years. He then converted his own score with a precise kick in windy conditions.
Ophir have been guilty in the past of starting well but letting the opposition back in to the game however there is a fresh belief in the team and they were soon driving towards the Ballyshannon line again. Unfortunately due to an infringement at a ruck Ophir were unable to capitalise on some positive play and had to settle for another accurate kick from the right boot of David Walker, who added a few more penalties before half time.
The second half started with a spirited response from the visitors who controlled possession and territory during the early exchanges however they were unable to make any inroads to the Ophir lead and it wasn’t long before the lead was extended. Again, after some fantastic interlinking play between the forwards and backs, Ophir found themselves driving in to Ballyshannons 22 again and this time, stand in skipper Karl Davis crossed the line to touch down. Again David Walker added the extras. However Ophir were not finished and after some more positive running from Neil Gray, who had firmly asserted his authority on the game, David Walker ran in from 15m out after a tight run down the wing. Unfortunately he was unable to convert from the touchline, a minor blip on a near perfect performance.
Ophir saved a piece of magic to finish the game off. Will Lucas, who seemed to be everywhere made a break down the right wing before being tackled on the half way line but not before he could pop the ball to young prop forward Gerard Crawford who smashed through the creaking defence with a typical bullocking run before offloading a cheeky pass to winger and debutant Steven Hastings who hit the ball at pace, side stepped the full back and sprinted in untouched to score under the posts. The conversion was again added from the impeccable boot of David Walker. The final score finished at 39-0 to Ophir.
The season ahead looks bright for the Newtownabbey club, with a youthful front row of John Joe Flood, John Curley and Gerard Crawford backed up with some great open play and drive from back row forwards Will Lucas and Neil Gray. The backs have discovered a new found confidence under the guidance of Club Coach Ken Campbell and this was epitomised by a Man of the Match performance from wing David Walker. When asked how he felt the game had gone, Ken added “The result was very good, but it wasn’t as impressive as the performance”. With a few players to come back in to contention, competition for places should help drive the team forward through the long season ahead.
