Forster Cup 4th February 2012
Scores: Patterson(1*Try), Walls(1*Try), Moran(2*Conv)
Managing duo G.McCann and E.Campbell watched their team claim a second win in the Forster Cup last Saturday, moving them into the Quarter Finals. Conditions were truly horrendous as Rainey’s open running style of play was dragged down into a wrestle in the quagmire that was Holywood’s pitch.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF I XV V ARMAGH
Rainey led 7-0 at the end of a boring, error-strewn first half that saw both sides fail to construct any phases of play. Kicking was to prove crucial in the game as both M.Walls and C.Moran kept the home side pinned in their half when any ball was turned over or when under pressure in their own half.
Upfront, last season’s captain, D.McKenna made a welcome return to the team. It was here where the game was to be won or lost. The Magherafelt pack dominated the scrum, even when losing D.Kidd to injury after 30 minutes. The propping duo of D.McKenna and D.McCann lead from the front, but with both sides flooding the breakdown, attacking opportunities from quick ball were few and far between. Rare chances to spread the ball were generally ruined by poor handling in the dismal conditions. I.Patterson burrowed over to open the scoring after a sustained period of pressure on the Holywood line, as most of the Rainey pack tried to bash their way through the last line of defence after several close attempts. C.Moran kicked the excellent conversion from wide out.
With the team now down to 14 men, the excellent J.Walls and C.McIvor tackled anything that moved up front, while P.Kidd, just back from injury, led the way in the backs. Half way into the second half, Holywood pounced on a series of errors as Rainey got into a muddle out wide, to score in the corner. This gave the men in red and black a jolt they seriously needed, as the ante was upped by the confrontational Holywood side. The County Down men fortunately missed a penalty attempt to take the lead after Rainey’s discipline dropped for a few minutes after the try.
Then with fifteen minutes left, came the decisive moment of the game. The Holywood out-half attempted to clear from his 22’, only for M.Walls to charge down the kick and run in underneath the posts. C.Moran made no mistakewith the conversion and the game ended with both sets of players covered head-to-toe in muck and admiring of each other’s tenacity to play in such conditions.
Man of the Match went to M.Walls who was superb on the pitch but failed miserably in the clubhouse in a drink-off with Holywood’s best player. The Thirds now return to league action with a fixture against Banbridge at home this Saturday.
TEAM: D.McKenna, F.Loane, D.McCann, I.Patterson, D.Kidd, J.Walls, C.McIvor, C.Patterson (c), C.Magee, M.Walls, P.Kidd, D.McErlain, D.Johnston, JP.Clayton, C.Moran.
