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Pic (c) Steve Haslett.
Match Report
Omagh 2 v Limavady 1
Saturday, 23rd November 2019
Conference League action this week saw Limavady travel to Omagh to take on their Seconds. Due to unavailability of players, Coach, Graeme Eastwood was forced into making six changes from the side that faced Ballymoney last week. While on paper this would suggest a weakened side this was not in fact the case as those players coming in played admirably and represented the Club in an excellent manner.
After eight minutes Limavady drew first blood when captain, Jody McMurray managed to find a gap in the home defence and raced in for the touch down. James McBriar, in the stand off position this week converted. Omagh, responded with two tries, coming mainly through their forward strength to give them the lead 14.7 This was an excellent game of rugby with both sides looking for dominance but not finding it due to sturdy defensive work by both rear guards. The next score would come Limavady’s way with the captain again leading from the front. Right on the stroke of half time Omagh would again manage to cross the try line to leave the half time score 19.12 in their favour.
With six minutes of the second half gone scrum half, Jamie Millar spotted a gap and managed to weave his way through to score under the posts. McBriar converted to draw the sides level. At this stage Limavady were dealt a cruel blow, when they lost two forwards (Russell Blair and Perry Semple) to injury. With only one sub available this meant that they would have to play virtually all of the second half with only fourteen players. This was when character really kicked in with those on the pitch giving their all. Luke Faulkner pushed his side out into the lead with an excellent penalty from near the half way line. This was just the impetus Limavady needed and from there they managed to keep their noses in front. With twenty minutes of the half gone Stuart Simpson, following on from an excellent performance last week, got his hands on the ball and from ten metres out there was going to be no stopping him as he crossed for the bonus point try. McBriar again converted. Omagh responded to reduce the deficit securing their bonus point try however Limavady (and Simpson) scored the try of the game when the ball was moved wide and Stu acrobatically dived in for the touchdown.
Final score: Omagh 24 Limavady 34
For the second week running Limavady 2nds were on the road again and returned with another excellent victory by 19 points to 12. Try scorers were Aaron Rainey (2) and Aaron Reilly with Harry McAleese converting two of these. No games next week for either side.
Report by Trevor Wilson
Photos by Steve Haslett
