Without detracting from a fine Lisburn performance, it must be said that this was not Randalstown’s finest hour.
Your humble scribe, in this, his last report from the battlefront before handing back to a worthier pen, hoped and fully expected to be searching for words to eulogise an heroic victory. The last two performances had been the best by the team in recent memory, taking them to joint top of the league with ten points and although there had been many cryoffs with injury, the biggest travelling support for years had full confidence in the men on the field.
In this situation, and on a perfect day for rugby, Randalstown inexplicably produced their worst performance in recent years. Apart from the lineout, their skill, nous and adroitness in recent games were absent. There appeared to be technical issues in the scrum, beyond the analytical competence of this writer, which meant that on occasion they drove forward, but more often, retreated. They were routinely driven back in ruck and maul, the normal half back control was missing, the threequarters did not handle well or threaten, but more importantly, for the first time ever, they lacked the collective will which normally enables them to find a way, even in their darkest hour. In the midst of this disarray, the player who stepped up was Ian Hume, the youngest and smallest in stature, but, on the day, the man with the biggest heart.
Randalstown started well, attacked from the kickoff and dominated the first two scrums. Unfortunately a couple of wrong decisions meant that they failed to capitalize on their early pressure and Lisburn began to get into the game. Early penalties were exchanged but there was still not much in it until Randalstown for the third time this year conceded a try to the blindside left wing coming into the line and taking the ball behind the outhalf. Another penalty made the half time score 11 – 3.
A penalty after the break brought the score to 11-6 and the game well within reach. Mid way through the second half a simple blindside move released the Lisburn wing, who did well to finish from forty yards, although there was a degree of doubt over the final pass. Thus the score remained for some time with Randalstown defending well but unable to find anything in attack and getting the worst of the forward exchanges. With five minutes to go an easy missed tackle allowed the Lisburn number seven to sprint forty yards unopposed to put the game beyond reach at 21 – 6.
After four games in the higher division, three away from home, Randalstown would have settled for ten points at this stage. It could have been more but every now and then all teams have a car crash. What matters is how they respond.
Next Saturday the 1st XV entertain City of Derry at home, the 2nd XV travel to Newry and the 3rd XV travel to Ballynahinch.
