On a fine bright Saturday morning at the Valley Leisure Centre playing pitches Ophir under 13’s revealed their new kit which has been kindly sponsored by Power NI.
After the paparazzi photos of the new kit it was down to the main business of the day and the match against a determined looking Lurgan team.
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Ophir boys were fully charged for the test ahead and there were a lot of livewires all over the pitch. Ophir immediately went on the attack and the pack put the Lurgan defence under pressure which resulted in an early Ophir scrum from which the Ophir scrum half Michael Quinn fired out a lightening bolt pass which short circuited the Lurgan team and enabled Ciaran Thompson to pass to Conor Roberts to go over for the first score of the day. From the Lurgan restart Ophir again raced up the field with impressive carrys from Daniel O’Hare and Adam Youll again set up camp in the Lurgan 22. The Ophir pack were generating plenty of ball which enabled the dynamic flankers of Andrew Youll and Duncan Bell to bring the backs more in to the play. It was from one of these plays that Ophir’s Michael Gilroy and Matthew Hunter penetrated the Lurgan defence and attacked the try line only to be tackled 5 metres out but were able to play a pop pass to Tom Nugent who went over for Ophirs second try which was converted by Niall McKeown. Ophir heads were up and faces beaming but they were soon dimmed as Lurgan ran in 2 converted tries before half time to lead 14-12 at the interval.
Ophir coaches Colin Hoy and Stewart Henry blew a fuse during the half time team talk pointing out the schoolboy errors and missed tackles that had turned the game in the Lurgan teams favour and demanded more from their charges in the second half.
Unfortunately for Ophir the second half started as the first ended with a converted Lurgan try. Ophir needed a spark to get them going and this was provided by the introduction of Fionntan De Nogla and Liam Reid who immediately transformed the game. Ophir got back to basics and started advancing steadily up the pitch when a flash of brilliance from Jack Reid allowed Conor Roberts to score his second and Ophirs third try of the day. Niall McKeown converted the kick which ensured an electrifrying end to the match as there was now only 2 points between the teams. From the Lurgan kick off the Ophir boys carried the ball into the Lurgan half with the pack advancing towards the 22 when Declan De Nogla got the ball and ran to the opposite side of the pitch before passing the ball to Samuel Mawhiney who played in Niall McKeown for the match winning score. The game finished with Ophir on the front foot but unable to add to the scoreboard.
Final score Ophir 24 – Lurgan 21.
Training for the under 13’s is held every Wednesday evening at 6.30 pm at Magowan Park, Mallusk Road – beside the Cottonmount Arms and any one wishing to give Ophir a TRY is invited.
Holywood 29 v 20 Ophir ~ Cup
13 man Ophir push Holywood close
After an unprecedented run of success in the Qualifying League, unbeaten in their first six matches, Ophir Firsts visited Kerr Park, Holywood, last Saturday for a round of the Gordon West Cup.
Missing James Milligan, Gerard Crawford and Will Lucas through injury the team faced an uphill battle against a very sound Holywood team. The hill became a mountain when Ophir’s out half, Ron Bell had to leave the field in the first minute with a rib injury after a heavy tackle. With no subs allowed, Holywood looked good for an easy victory. But it wasn’t as easy as they might have thought.
Despite an early penalty miss, the Holywood backs looked supremely confident, taking time on the ball and probing the Ophir defence with sharp running. In the 10th minute, the ball was swept to Holywood winger, David Perry who took on the defence with a jinking 40 metre sprint to score in the corner. The conversion missed the posts. For the next 20 minutes it was a game of Ophir defence struggling to keep the home team at bay. Then Ophir seemed to realise they were well in the match and with excellent ball retention took play to the Holywood 22. Karl Davis led the way with a typical storming run and from recycled possession lock, Neil Gray was driven over in the corner, much to the delight of dad Wilbur on the touchline. David Walker converted brilliantly and the visitors were amazingly in the lead. But it didn’t last long. Holywood came right back and a missed tackle in midfield saw their inside centre cut through for a fine try under the posts. This was converted comfortably and before half time, Holywood could have added to their score when, with the line at their mercy, a dropped ball was deemed by the referee to have been knocked on; a decision hotly disputed by the home team. To rub salt in the wound the ref awarded a penalty to Ophir for dissent, and the danger was cleared.
Ophir started the second half well, taking the game to Holywood and dominating territory. David Walker calmly stroked a penalty between the posts, to cut the deficit to 12 – 10. Then came a further blow to Ophir – hooker Ross Nelson had to be carried off the pitch with what transpired to be a broken bone in his ankle. Down to 13 men Ophir were really up against a wall and Holywood showed why with another excellent try from their winger. At 19 – 10, it looked like the floodgates might open but instead and quite outstandingly, Ophir hit back. Realising that the uncontested scrums were to their advantage and cutting down dramatically on turnovers, the visitors drove themselves to the Holywood line where once again Neil Gray broke from a ruck and crashed over in the corner for an inspirational try. Walker narrowly missed the conversion but Ophir were playing with supreme confidence. On the 20th minute of the half, scrum half Karl Davis once again broke clear from the Holywood defence and took on a 60 metre sprint to touch down. David Walker’s conversion attempt bounced off the crossbar, but incredibly, Ophir led by a single point, 19 – 20. This was turning out to be a magnificent Ophir performance and the Holywood support were anxiously urging their team on, to avoid an embarrassing defeat. To their immense relief, with 5 minutes to go, a penalty was awarded against Ophir for joining a ruck from the side. The 3 points were enough to put Holywood back into a narrow lead but Ophir were not yet finished and the final stages of the game were a thoroughly entertaining mix of midfield struggle for a decisive breakthrough. But it was Holywood who prevailed – seemingly in about the 50th minute of the half, their centre lashed out a boot from a stray Ophir pass. Caught flat footed, the Ophir defence scrambled back in an attempt to cover the break, but the Holywood centre won the race to score a try that was easily converted.
The final score, Holywood 29, Ophir 20.
