Ballymoney 4th XV 10 Randalstown 2nd XV 20
A typical bruising affair between Randalstown 2s and Ballymoney 4s saw the young Randalstown side run out 20-10 winners in Ballymoney on Saturday afternoon.
The start of the game saw the home side fall foul of the referee as the conceded a number of early penalties. ‘Town full back Peter McCann slotted over 2 fairly straightforward kicks in these opening minutes to edge the visitors in front before Ballymoney hit back with some traditional rumbling forward orientated rugby.
On 10 minutes a home lineout on the ‘Town 22 was gathered and the Ballymoney pack controlled the maul perfectly to bowl over for a converted try.
A few minutes later ‘Town pulled ahead again with another Peter McCann penalty after good work from Tim Montgomery who was having a great game in the loose and line out. The big second row however had an enforced ten minute rest before half time as ‘Town weathered a period of pressure from the experienced ballymoney pack. Indeed the Randalstown forwards displayed great physical and mental strength to hold the home side out during this time as they strove to take advantage of having an extra man on the park.
Skipper Sammy Hyndman, Robin Adair and Ben Hamilton in particular put in energy sapping efforts at this point to ensure the score board wasn’t troubled.
Eventually 10 minutes into the 2nd half ‘Town got a deserved touch down. With the game becoming increasingly looser they were getting more and more on top with Bailey, McGlade and Smith all making strong breaks. It was however diminutive flanker Ian Hume who made the decisive break, going blind off a ruck. Despite having suffered a dislocated finger in the first half Hume carried on and having broke from the ruck linked with Smith who in turn sent McGlade sprinting in on the wing. McCann added the conversion.
Ballymoney ominously hit straight back with a penalty but that was to be a rare and the only productive venture into ‘town territory for the remainder of the game. ‘Town continued to dominate without adding to the score as the ball just didn’t quite go to hand when they attempted to put it wide.
Harris and Hamilton combined at one stage to cut a huge hole in the Ballymoney defence but were stopped just short. McGlade made a couple of mazey runs but a final pass went to ground. Turner and McWhirter were always alert and eager in closing down their opposite numbers and killing any potential attack.
With 10 minutes remaining good work at the breakdown from Goodrich and Mowbray created another successful penalty opportunity for McCann to stretch the ‘Town lead. ‘Town continued to press and forced the home side into conceding another kickable penalty opportunity which McCann duly popped over to finish the game 20-10 in favour of Randalstown.
A great all round performance from Randalstown against wily and experienced opposition who have proved to be their nemesis in the past. The forwards took the sting out of their strength in the maul in the opening period and the fresher legs of the ‘Town backline were able to put the home side to the sword in the second half.
Manager Sloane was reluctant to single out an individual in what was another fine team performance, but McWhirter was a constant pest to the opposition around the fringes, while Tim Montgomery put in a big effort having only played a handful of games this season and Ian Hume was immense in attack and defence.
Team: McCann, Crawford, D Smith, Bailey, McGlade, Turner, McWhirter, R Adair, Hamilton, S Mowbray, S Hyndman (Capt) Montgomery, I Hume, S Goodrich, Harris.
Next Saturday the 2nds take on Hollywood 2nds in the quarter final of the Forster Cup at Neillsbrook and naturally would appreciate all available support.
Randalstown 3rd XV 39 Malone 4th XV 14
Malone travelled to Neillsbrook for this Butler Shield tie confident of coming away easy victors but from the onset the ‘town’ lads took the game them and after ten minutes Ash’the tank’ Mc Clenaghan answered the sceptics who questioned playing him on the wing by bulldozing his way over the tryline and went on to give his opposite number a torrid time all afternoon.
On fifteen minutes prop Pedro Conceiaco then crashed over to put the Randalstown lads ten up. Martin Asquith was introduced after an injury to John Mc Kay and grasped the opportunity to give one of his finest displays in a Randalstown jersey putting in tremendous work all over the park. The ‘town bossed the scrums and lineouts at this stage and rucks were fast and furious one of which enabled hooker Adam Upritchard to crash over for the final try of the half converted by Tommy Shannon.
Half time Randalstown 17 Malone 0
A Malone breakaway try from the Randalstown 22 brought the score to 17-7 before Shannon despatched a penalty only for Malone to score yet again reducing the arrears to six.
This was a tense period of the game with tempers becoming frayed and after a melee the referee had to diffuse the situation and both teams resorted back fortunately to playing rugby.
Captain Adrian Johnson managed to take time out from his double jobbing attending to the multiple Malone wounded who felt the effects of this bruising encounter to score the best try of the afternoon. Again Shannon converted before Marty Asquith and then Gary Paine got their names on the scoresheet with deserved tries to bring the game to a conclusion.
Full time Randalstown 39 Malone 14.
This was a complete all round team performance which captivated the spectators and as one was heard saying ‘it had everything’ with no one daring to leave early. Fearghal McConnon and Nathan Hodge had collossal games and shared the ‘Man Of The Match’ accolade. The front row of Mark ‘Plum’ Mc Cullough, Adam Upritchard and Pedro Conceiaco proved an awesome combination. Benji Cathgart at scrumhalf and Adrian Johnson continually made the correct decisions and Tommy Shannon had a super game both in running out of defence and with the boot.
Team M Mc Cullough, A Upritchard, P Conceiaco, F Mc Connon, J Mc Kay, C Ferry, C Mowbray, N Hodge, B Cathgart, A Johnson, S Moon, S Snow, A Sloane, A Mc Clenaghan, T Shannon, M Asquith, M Hamilton ,G Paine, D Frew.
Next week the 3rds play Ballynahinch away.
