Randalstown members were saddened to learn on Saturday evening of the death of Leslie (Red) Bell. The club extends their sympathy to his wife Shirley, son Ivan, daughter Linda and the family circle at this time. Leslie was a club stalwart for many years, and when he hung up his boots acted as fixtures secretary for a considerable time. He was a tremendous encouragement to many young players who arrived at Randalstown down the years and will be greatly missed.
City of Derry 2nds 20 Randalstown 1st XV 12 (Conference League)
While the jury is still out on any advantages the conference league may offer, Coach Mikey Stevenson will use this game as a reminder to players that continuing to train together on a regular basis can be enough to make the difference in these close encounters.
In a game dominated by the sometimes severe weather conditions, Captain Neil Foster won the toss at Judges Road and decided to play into an almost gale force wind. Straight from the kick off with the rain now adding to the already difficult conditions, the town eight failed to secure the ball. The resulting home scrum set the pattern of play for the most of the first half, with Randalstown forced to defend for long periods deep in their own half. In this regard the back row of Wilson, Hume & Fleck did some sterling work ably assisted by the rest of the pack, in particular James Millar who at times appeared to show little regard for his own welfare. While Randalstown did manage a number of forays into the opposition half, too often handling errors and the resulting turnover resulted in the ball being kicked straight back into the town 22. As a result Randalstown conceded 2 tries in the first half. These 2 tries (one of which was converted) together with a long range penalty left the half time score at 15 – 0 in favour of the home team.
The 2nd half saw a complete role reversal with the ‘Town team encamped in the home 22 straight from the kick off. Following a series of 5 metre scrums in the Derry 22 No 8 Dan Wilson forced his way over the line on 2 occasions only for the referee to rule that he was held up on both occasions. Eventually the pressure did tell and after some 20 minutes of the 2nd half good pressure by both backs & forwards saw a loose ball in the City of Derry 22 kicked through by the ever alert Alec Fleck who followed up to touch down close to the touch line. The conversion was missed by Darryl McGarry to leave the score at 15-5.
Randalstown continued to dominate territory but found the City of Derry defence a hard nut to crack. On one of the few occasions that the home team did work its way into the ‘Town half, a knock on saw a scrum awarded to the home side on the town 22 close to the touchline. Despite the scrum wheeling more than 180 degrees the referee allowed play to continue and a well rehearsed move by the City of Derry back line saw the strong running blind side winger breakthrough the town midfield defence only to be hauled down some 5 metres from the line. From the ensuing ruck, the ball was recycled quickly and fed out to the Derry backline who by this stage had reorganised and created an overlap position which they took full advantage of to score in the corner. The conversion into the wind was missed.
Shortly after the restart with 10 minutes remaining, centre Darryl McGarry was forced to leave the pitch with a knee injury following a strong follow up tackle near the Derry goal line. After another period of sustained pressure by the town team the home team were penalised in front of their own posts and quick thinking by scrum half Peter McWhirter saw him take the quick tap penalty before racing past the home defence to score below the posts. The conversion was added by Peter McCann to leave the score at 20 -12.
With time almost up, town retrieved the kick off and scrum half McWhirter made another good break down the blind side, only to be tackled into touch short of the half way line, when in hindsight a pass inside to the supporting winger Willie Fleck or kick ahead may have proved a better option. This was the final action of the game.
Despite four enforced changes to the team due to injury and player unavailability, Randalstown put up another strong spirited performance against a well drilled City of Derry seconds team whose pack had a considerable weight and height advantage. It was good to see Peter McCann making his first appearance of the season for the club 1stXV at fullback. After a shaky start albeit in difficult conditions he settled in well taking some good catches and making some good counter attacks. There were a number of candidates for man of the match especially in the pack however Blayne McGarry probably gets the nod with another good game in both defence and attack.
Randalstown 2nd XV 50 Ophir 2nd XV 0
Randalstown 2nds cruised to victory against local rivals Ophir at Neilsbrook on Saturday afternoon. Both teams were affected by call ups to their respective 1st XVs, but it was Randalstown who displayed the greater strength in depth with several players stepping up to the mark and pressing claims for a permanent 2nd XV starting place. Sam Maguire, Ash McClenaghan, Scott McClenaghan, Phil Nelson and Paul Morriss all performed admirably on recall or debut.
The home side got on top in the match early on, particularly in the scrum, where Pollin and Pedlow were dominant against heavier opposition. Scrum half Maguire on his return to the side was a constant thorn in the side of the opposition with sniping runs off scrums and rucks.
Scott McClenaghan and Pollen both went close before ‘Town opened the scoring on 15 minutes. From a scrum just inside the Ophir 10 meter line Simon Moon, adding ballast to the home midfield on his return from injury, cut back inside and the recycled ball went out to Ash McClenaghan who barged over for the opening score. Turner obliged with the conversion.
Maguire was causing havoc down the Ophir right wing, creating two chances for winger Ben Winter, and twice Winter was bundled into touch just short of the line. Ash McClenaghan appeared to have touched down again on the half hour, but was deemed to have dropped the ball over the try line. Minutes later Ings broke from a scrum just inside the Ophir half and popped to Maguire. The wiry scrum half jinked his way through to within 10 metres where Ings was on hand to finish the move with a well deserved try.
Just before half time a turn over by Scott McClenaghan provided Maguire with a chance to break blind and put in a deft chip which Winter gathered and scampered over unimpeded this time.
Turning round 17 -0 up and with a now strengthening wind on their back ‘Town turned the screw. A clearing kick from Ophir held up in the wind and was well fielded by Morriss just inside his own half. The powerful winger then went on a superb solo run beating half a dozen attempted tackles before sliding over the try line.
The match continued to be played in the Ophir half with ‘Town exerting all the pressure and with about 55 minutes now on the clock Maguire spotted a hole in the defence and squirted through under the posts, leaving a reasonably straightforward conversion for Turner.
Minutes later Morriss gave us a replay of his first effort when on fielding a clearance just outside the Ophir 22 he powered through again in the corner and Turner added the difficult conversion to stretch the lead to 36 – 0.
Straight from the restart Ash McClenaghan and the ever present Scott Goodrich put in a double tackle and it was young flanker Goodrich who was first on his feet to scoop up the ball and sprint home for a well taken try. Turner again added the extras.
Kenny Pollin rounded off proceedings running in under the posts after another break by Maguire and Turner’s conversion took the score to 50 – 0 at which point, with an Ophir player having had to retire injured, the referee decided enough was enough.
This was a pleasing display and win for the Randalstown 2nd string as far as Manager Sloane was concerned. Captain Hyndman marshalled his troops well when they went through a sticky patch in the first half, resorting to close contact play into a fierce head wind. They wore their opponents down in the first half so that in the second half they were able to cut loose with some fine attacking play. It was difficult to single out individuals in a good team performance but Nelson and Maguire caught the eye with some outstanding play.
Team: Tsui Winter Johnston Moon Morriss Turner Maguire Pollin A McClenaghan Pedlow Nelson S McClenaghan Hyndman Goodrich Ings.
Next Saturday the 1st and 2nd XV host their Monaghan counterparts at Neillsbrook while the 3rd XV host CIYMS 4ths. There will be entertainment in the clubhouse after the games and everyone is welcome.
