Roesiders Edge Closer To League Title
PSNI 5 Limavady 25
A bonus point win grabbed deep into injury time moved Limavady 1sts ever closer to the Kukri Qualifiying Section 3 title at a wind, rain and hail stone swept Newfordge Country Club on Saturday past. Third placed PSNI had plenty to play for as the race between themselves and second placed U.U.C hots up for a promotion play-off spot with the 9th placed team in Section 2.
Backed by a strong wind in the first half the hosts were intent in pegging the unbeaten league leaders back in there own ’22’, and on 12 minutes this tactic paid off as Jack McCool’s clearance was charged down and the PSNI right winger was first to react to the loose ball and was left with the simple task to touch the ball down for an early lead. The conversion was missed, so Limavady found themselves 5-0 down, a situation that they have not been in too often this season. The response though was immediate when after a break by Robert Lamberton broke down the right, play was swept to the left handside when left winger Stewart Roddy and Luke Faulkner combined for Jamie Mo. Miller to crash over the line to level matters at five all. Again the wind was causing havoc for the kickers, as not only did Jack McCool’s conversion drift wide, but also two PSNI penalties.
As the conditions deteriorated, Limavady would have been more than happy to go in at the break all square but Jack McCool had other ideas after Limavady were awarded a penalty when a home team forward strayed into an offside position, and from ten meters inside the PSNI half, Jack McCool drilled the penalty between the sticks, and at the turnaround it was PSNI 5 Limavady 8
As the wind gathered pace and the rain started to turn to hailstones, the few hardy, brave and diehard spectators didn’t see a lot to warm the cockles. It was just a matter of who would make the fewer mistakes and who would get over the line for the next score. After 58mins came the next and decisive score when 2nd row John Purcell fed Stewart Roddy who finished off in his own trademark barn storming fashion.
As the game entered the final quarter, and trailing by eight points , the PSNI threw caution to the wind to try and find a way back into the contest. But on a day when the Roesiders found their form up front again, they just couldn’t force their way through a mean Limavady defence.
As the clock ticked to the 80th minute, referee Jackson signalled that there was to be 6 additional minutes due to an injury picked to a PSNI player, and in the third of those additional minutes Robert Lamberton charged down the right wing to beat four opposing players to score a wonderful Individual try under the posts. Jack McCool added the extras to confirm the win, but there was still time to muster one more attack, in the hope of securing that elusive bonus point. Luke Faulkner collected the re-start and passed to McCool who fed that Man Lamberton, and again he set off on another mazy run, only this time he was caught short of the try line, but he did manage to pop a pass to scrum half Jamie Miller who splashed down in the a rain soaked corner of the field to score that all-important fourth try.
This was the last play of the game and referee Peter Jackson’s whistle was greeted by ecstatic cheers from the small band of travelling supporters as well as the management team on the sideline. With UUC also securing a bonus point win over Strabane, Limavady are one just six points off being confirmed as Section 3 champions, while the PSNI have fallen further behind the Coleraine students in the race for the promotion play-off spot.
Team: P. Wilson, R. Lamberton, J.M. Miller, J. McCool, S. Roddy, L. Faulkner, J. Miller. C. Scott, A. McIlmoyle, J.McCollum, M. Rice, J. Purcell, S. Mackey, P. Browne, D. Irvine.
No fixtures next week, but on Saturday 20th February the 1st XV will begin the defence of the Gordon West Cup which they won in great fashion last April in the Kingspan Stadium. And they could not have asked for tougher tie as they have been drawn away to play second placed UUC, so a big two weeks ahead to get ready for this one.
On a match played at the Limavady Grammar School pitches, Limavady 2nds ended the unbeaten start to the season of runaway Junior 4 leaders Belfast Harlequins 3rds. The South Belfast Men kicked off aided by a strong wind, but only led 7-0 at the break, but with ten minutes to go they still led 12-10. A Ryan McCool try and five points from Greg Jordan keeping the plucky Roesiders in contention. Kiwi Jordan then nudged Limavady back in front with a penalty before powerhouse second row Chris Tinney powered over for the game clinching try. Again, Jordan landed his kick to cap brilliant win on a 20-12 scoreline.
Next Saturday the seconds are due to play Ballymena 5ths at home with a 2.30pm kick off.
A special word of thanks to Limavady Grammar School for letting the club use their facilities on Saturday.
The under 14’s had an early start as they travelled to play Finn Valley in Stranorlar. Trailing at half time by seven points, the lads put in a super second half to record a fine 52-17 victory. Great prep for an upcoming cup tie with Civil Service.
