A Patched up Skins U18’s side progress into QFinals of the Cup
Enniskillen U18’s 20
Ballynahinch U18’s 5
On Saturday morning Skins U18’s hosted Ballynahinch U18’s in the 2nd round of the Cup. Hinch U18’s are a strong Section 1 side but that didn’t put off the young Skins who had a number of key players out through injures and had several players carrying knocks at this late stage of the season.
Skins Kicked off the game and for the first 10 minutes it was a scrappy affair with both teams finding it hard to get control of the game. Skins then secured some possession and started to link together well, going through several phases of play ending with a try in the corner, only for the referee to blow his whistle for a knock on. Skins continued to work hard and went through 12 phases of play with props Thomas Og McGurran and Rory Morris making great ground carrying ball. On the 16th minute, following quick ball to Jamie Kelly on Hinch’s 22 metre line, the big Number 8 punched a hole in the defensive line and powered over to score an unconverted try. Skins were 10 nil to the good 2 minutes later when, after the restart, Kelly caught the ball and went down Hinch’s channel, drawing his defender then offloading to Flanker Eoin Cleary to run in for an unconverted try in the corner. For the next 10 minutes Skins were dominating the game and were patient against a defence that was hard to break down. Their patience paid off and on the 28th minute, after getting quick ball to Centre Tyler Millar from a Skins scrum on the halfway line, the centre broke through the Hinch defence to score an unconverted try in the corner. Skins finished the half dominating the game with most of the possession but couldn’t add to the score and ended the half 15 nil to the good. Protein shakes a plenty for these boyz!
The second half kicked off in similar fashion, a scrappy affair and on the 40th minute Hinch broke the skins defence m, that looked so solid and comfortable throughout the game, to score an unconverted try in the corner, leaving the score 15-5 to Skins. This try seemed to lift the Hinch team and they started attacking the Skins blackline, failing to find a breakthrough with Centre partners of Adrian Maguire and Tyler Millar making some great tackles. For the next 25 minutes Hinch seen a lot of ball and they came close to scoring after shifting the ball out to their winger who thought he was in for a score, only for Fullback Paddy Fee to make a last ditch tackle on him. Then on the 67th minute against the run of play Flanker Conor Maguire ripped the ball from a Hinch player on the halfway line and drew two defenders before offloading to out-half Jarlath Maguire who kicked and chased excellently, touching it down for an unconverted try to leave the final score 20-5 to Skins.
Credit must be given to Ballynahinch who kept battling to the final whistle. The young Skins now progress into the quarter final of the cup next Saturday with a home game against Ballymoney
