Mixed fortunes for the Randalstown teams on the first competitive Saturday of the new season saw only the 2nd XV run out winners. However various unofficial reports suggest that there were many positives to take away and no doubt some hard yards will be put in at training on Tuesday and Thursday to ensure full benefit is reaped from these aspects.
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BANGOR 44 RANDALSTOWN 10
Randalstown travelled to Bangor for the first match of the new campaign with high hopes and not a little apprehension, anxious to see how they would fare in the more rarefied atmosphere of Qualifying II. They faced a Bangor side with strong promotion ambitions based on a strong pack, with a much vaunted front row and a number of quality backs recruited or repatriated over the summer. Conditions were perfect, apart from a shifting, stiffish breeze and the pitch stretched to eternity.
On the day the score was probably a fair reflection of the play, although Randalstown were fortunate that the Bangor kicker did not have his best day. Nevertheless, the team returned home in good heart, massively encouraged and relishing the return fixture. The most positive thing they learned was that the pack can cope at this level and the scrum battle was won two nil. For long periods of the match the forward exchanges, possession and territory were evenly shared. The result was dictated by the fact that the Bangor back three were in a class far above this standard of rugby in handling skills, sheer pace and movement and when they obtained the ball in any unstructured situation it always boded ill.
Although in those conditions and on that pitch this opposition would always have presented a difficult challenge, Randalstown contributed somewhat to their own demise through a degree of early season rustiness which will be ironed out for next week. The lineout had one of its rare off days, the ball was at times needlessly lost in contact and, most critically, the tackling lacked the certainty and the aggression that characterized it last year. On top of that they made things very difficult for themselves by shipping tries at the worst of times, a soft one just five minutes into the match and one either side of half time. John O’Kane and Rab Fleck produced a well worked try for Randalstown, which O’Kane converted and also added a penalty.
The most positive thing of all was that even though the result was foregone early in the second half, the morale never faltered, the heads never dropped, easy penalties were spurned in favour of tap and go and the pack maintained parity right to the final whistle.
Next week we will sort out the rustiness, wind up the aggression and look forward with confidence to giving Larne a hard game in our first home match at Nellisbrook next Saturday.
Randalstown 2nd XV 22 Ballymoney 4th XV 15
Randalstown 2s got their league campaign off to a flying start at Neillsbrook with a 22-15 victory over old rivals Ballymoney 4s.
It was the vastly experienced visitors who started brighter, starving the enthusiastic ‘Town of possession, and they opened the scoring after 10 minutes. From a lineout on the ‘Town 22 Ballymoney rumbled their way forward before moving the ball wide. ‘Town were punished for falling off their tackles as the opposition centre cut inside to breech home defence and touch down for a converted try.
The visitors continued to dominate for the next 20 minutes but despite having a series of scrums inside the home 10 metres their only reward was a penalty.
Randalstown showed great spirit and resilience in keeping Ballymoney out and gradually got themselves back into the game in the last 10 minutes of the half. A quick lineout on halfway saw the ball reach McGlade who in turn popped to Scott Goodrich. Goodrich danced his way past a couple of despairing tackles before spinting home.
A couple of minutes into the second half ‘Town scored again. Good recycling by the forwards and good hands in the backline saw McGlade glide through the Ballymoney defence and draw the last defender before off loading to Thom who squeezed over in the corner.
On the restart a great catch and drive from birthday boy Pedlow gave ‘Town a great platform to attack again. Hume took the ball off the top of the lineout and Cathcart set his backline off again. McGlade sliced through the visiting defence again but unfortunately this time the ball was knocked on as he went to touch down.
Randalstown were now totally in control and even gained parity in the scrum, where Ballymoney had dominated the opening exchanges, as the game progressed. It took them to the 70th minute however to add to the score.
A long clearance from Ballymoney was fielded by Ben Winter on his own 22. Winter took off with Smith in support and the ball progressed to McGlade who jinked in from halfway, evading a number of would be tacklers, and safely touched down for a well deserved score.
‘Town then stretched the lead further when, from a steady scrum on the visitors 10m line, the wily Harris picked up and broke down the blind side to go in under the posts untouched. Cathcart added the conversion.
The visitors hit back in the final minute on their only incursion into the ‘Town 10 metre area in the 2nd half. Their flanker was quick to pounce and gather a ball which squirted out the side of the scrum and he crashed over the line for the final score of the game.
This was a thoroughly deserved win for the ‘Town side, who once they had taken the sting out of the visitors, were always on top. Fitness and speed were key to this victory. McGlade in the centre was always a threat when he got his hands on the ball. Cathcart made an impressive return to ‘Town colours and Robin Adair at loosehead looks to be a useful addition to the squad. It was the non stop trio of Hume, Goodrich and Harris in the back row however who share the man of match accolade as they put in a tireless afternoon’s work.
Randalstown 3rd XV 7 Grosvenor 4th XV 81
On the adjacent pitch Randalstown’s young 3rd XV were taught a harsh lesson by an extremely talented Grosvenor side who exhibited a style of rugby more often seen in higher leagues. While they clocked up tries on a regular basis Randalstown by no means ever gave up and displayed some excellent passages of rugby only to lose possession at vital times.
The main problem to be addressed by the 3rd XV in the coming weeks is an improvement in first up tackling as almost every Grosvenor score came as a result of the initial contact failing.
Ferghal McConnon and Ash McClenaghan never stopped trying to break through the determined visiting defence and typified a general willingness on the ‘town side to keep plugging away, and on which the side should take credit. Tommy Devlin, newly installed as 3rd XV manager this season, has some positives to take away and he will no doubt encourage his charges in the coming weeks and hopefully reap the rewards as the season progresses.
Thanks go this week to Billy Stevenson and Willie Simpson for their assistance with the detail on the scorelines.
Next week the 1st XV will entertain Larne at home while the 2nds and 3rds are on the road to Coleraine and Larne respectively.
The home game will be preceeded by a pre-match lunch which at the time of going to press is almost fully subscribed. There may be one or two seats available and anyone wishing to attend should contact Adie Johnston.
