On a crisp day in the Brook Randalstown 3rds assembled to take on Carrick 5ths, and as they boosted a team with much potential and experience hopes were high from the outset of a positive result.
Young Michael ‘Marshal’ Savage returned to the fold and was hoping to assert himself around the rucks and in the loose and shed some of the recently gained ‘college’ weight. McCann also had to recall veterans Gregor Sloane, Andy Barron and Tommy Devlin due to some last minute unavailabilities and between them they managed to substantially increase the average playing age on the pitch.
‘Town didn’t get off to an ideal start as some poor defence in the eighth minute after conceding a penalty led to a gift of a converted try for the opposition. Some reshuffling had to be done as out half Adam Boyd retired from the fray with a blood injury. They came straight back however, and looked dangerous, but some poor handling led to a turnover and Carrick took full advantage with a break away converted try.
Harsh words from veteran Ivan Richardson (‘this is rugby not wrestlemania’) spurred on the home side and they put together some good phases of play to be rewarded with a kickable penalty opportunity. Unfortunately the attempt dropped just wide of the posts. Shortly afterwards some smart kicking by Sam Maguire gave ‘town a good attacking lineout on the opposition 5m line, but the opportunity when begging when Ferghal McConnon narrowly missed the touchdown under the posts.
With 25 minutes played Randalstown were beginning to stamp some authority on the proceedings but still hadn’t troubled the scoreboard. Andrew Sloane made an excellent break up the left hand side but was bundled into touch on the 22 m line. Then Maguire produced a magnificent solo effort when he cheekily chipped through and chased to scorch in under the posts leaving a straightforward conversion for McCann.
2 minutes later he produced a carbon copy almost to level the score at 14 all going in to the interval. Carrick missed a penalty opportunity that would have nudged them ahead so it was game on for the second half.
‘Town started the second half all guns blazing and were unlucky not to score through Ben Winter. Team manager Tommy McCann led by example after a magnificent run seen him touch down to the right of the posts. Peter McCann obliged with his 3rd conversion and ‘town were 21 – 14 ahead. (For the purposes of accuracy in this report the actual distance recorded for McCann’s touchdown was a crash over from 1.5mout).
Andy Barron was granted a 10 minute breather as he took issue with a Carrick player grabbing his shirt and now down to 13 men the home side were guilty of loss of concentration and some slightly sloppy defending allowing Carrick in out wide. The difficult conversion was missed so ‘town retained the lead with the narrowest of margins.
For the next 15 minutes there was nothing to choose between the teams as both sides made some basic errors and the hard ground started to tell as bodies littered the field. ‘Town were unlucky not to add to their tally though centre Thom then Peter McCann, who had a fine afternoon all round, made an excellent break and off loaded to young Andrew Sloane who finished in style under the posts. McCann added the conversion and ended the match 28 – 19 to Randalstown.
This was an entertaining encounter and a well deserved win for ‘Town, having gone down narrowly to Carrick in the recent encounter at Carrick in somewhat wetter muddier conditions, in what was also an entertaining game despite the awful conditions that day.
Man of the match went to Sam Maguire for his 2 solo tries in the first half, and all round continuous effort throughout the game.
Manager McCann was delighted to finish out the season with a win, following on from a solid victory over Academy the previous week, in what has been a year of mixed fortunes for the 3rd XV.
