Since the corresponding fixture back in September finished honours even at 17 all this was always going to be a tight encounter at Neillsbrook.
For the opening 10 minutes while ‘Town looked to be in control no quarter was given by the visitors. It took a clever kick through from Laverty which McCann did well to keep in play, and in fact put Fleck in only to be adjudged to have allowed the pass to float forward, to put Randalstown into a scoring position. They had to be content with a Peter McCann penalty for their efforts despite initially playing the advantage well, but unfortunately Hume just couldn’t hold on and dropped the ball over the line.
Encouraged by this ‘Town kept pressure on the Holywood defence and were soon awarded a further penalty which McCann again converted.
Much of the play then occurred between the 22s and indeed Holywood threatened the home line for the best part of ten minutes. Only some sterling defence and text book tackling by John O’Kane, punching well above his weight kept the visitors out. Ryan Wilson pounced on a loose ball and cleared well down into the Holywood 22 to once again give the home team good field position. Holywood attempted to clear their lines but the ever alert Dan Wilson charged the clearance down and was quickly up to gather and run in beside the posts allowing McCann a relatively straightforward conversion.
The 2nd half continued to be a nip and tuck affair with only a penalty apiece troubling the scoreboard. The home support were by now confident that Randalstown had done enough to secure the victory, but Holywood weren’t done and in the dying seconds of the match broke through the home defence to score a converted try of their own.
Having fielded yet another changed side due to various unavailabilities coach Stevenson was happy with the result. Whilst there have been many personnel changes in the 1st XV this season, the upside is now that many players have shown their worth and competition for places remains intense. This can only be good for Randalstown and they should be confident of further wins in the league and hopefully a good finishing position.
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Team: Coulter McGlade Laverty O’Kane McCann Boyd Wilson Foster (Capt) Finlay Hamilton Hume Millar Wilson Fleck Hurrell.
Carrick 5ths 59 Randalstown 3rd XV 0
For a second successive week Randalstown 3rds came up against one of the league leaders and once again the difference in class was evident in the score line. Travelling to play the unbeaten Carrick 5ths they were soundly beaten 59 – 0 with the home team’s potent back line taking full advantage of the wide open spaces of the home pitch.
‘town started well with Asquith going close before being bundled into touch in the opening minutes. Straight after that a simple penalty attempt went begging for the visitors before Carrick opened their account with a converted try. Three more converted scores saw the home side go into the interval28 -0 ahead.
With Carrick using the breeze to keep ‘Town pinned in their own half for much of the 2nd half they ran in another 5 tries, 3 of which were converted to finish the match 59 – 0.
This was a harsh lesson for the young ‘Town side, but they battled hard with the pack toughing it out admirably against a tight Carrick unit. McConnon, Ings and Loughlin in particular worked hard around the field. It was however the classy Carrick backs who really made the difference, stretching the ‘town defence on numerous occasions despite Moon & Pollin tackling hard in the centre.
Team: Hodges Duncan Pollen Moon Harrison Service Asquith Reeves Sloane Pedlow Devlin McCann Loughlin McConnon Ings
The firsts make the trip to Donegal next Saturday , the 2nds are due to travel to Enniskillen and the 3rds entertain Shorts at Neillsbrook
