Qualifying League Section 3
Ophir 12 Limavady 73
League champions Limavady shock off their cup final blues in the best possible fashion by running in 11 tries and complete their league campaign with a 100% record with 22 wins from 22 games. All but three games were won with a bonus point and in only one game, a recent four point victory at Belfast High School Former Pupils, did the opposition come away with a losing bonus point.
Last week’s cup final took its toll on Paul O’Kane’s match day selection, as the team sheet showed four changes to the starting line up. Out through injury went Faulknour, McCool, McClelland and captain Daniel Irvine. Michaél McCloskey came into the back row with Sam Mackey taking over at No 8.
While there was little change in the pack, the backs bore little resemblance to the one that started against Lurgan last time out.
Only scrum half half Jamie Millar and winger Stewart Roddy held the same position. Matthew Haslett and Robert Lamberton formed a new centre partnership with Peter Wilson taking over at out half. Stuart Houston made his first start in over two and a half years on the wing and Sheagh Mclaughlin was asked to call on all his GAA skills by moving to full back from flanker.
Limavady attacked from the first whistle and it didn’t take them long to get the scoreboard ticking. Only three minutes had elapsed when hooker Adam McIlmoyle showed all the skills of an outside back when his dummy not only fooled the opposition, but most of his own team mates to score the first of his sides tries. Sheagh McLaughlin quickly added a second after taking a pass from Hooker come winger Stuart Houston, and the whirlwind start continued when Peter Wilson and Rob Lamberton ran in tries number 3 & 4 with only 10mins on the clock. Peter Wilson added three conversions to his try for a 26-0 lead.
Slowly Ophir came into the game and manged to cross the line for a try of their own on 21 minutes after some good forward play. But the reply from Limavady was instant. A smart restart from Wilson was won by Lamberton and the ball was worked out to winger Stewart Roddy who ran for Limavady try number five.
With such a big lead so early, the visitors play became a bit sloppy and more often than once they took the wrong option. This sloppy play resulted in a fine individual try for Ophir’s No 7 who touched down beside the posts for a converted try. This left the half time score Ophir 12 Limavady 33.
The message at the break was a simple. Just go back to basics and keep the rugby simple. What was witnessed in the next 15mins was devastating.
In the first minute of the half Robert Lamberton scored a trademark try after beating four defenders before Stewart Roddy powered down the left to cross the white wash for the second time. The Ophir heads began to drop and after possibly shading the exchanges up front in the first half, Limavady were starting to take over here too. As a more composed Limavady went through phase after phase, the gaps started to appear in the home defence and on 48mins Sam Mackey scored a try which saw Limavady break the half century mark.
Two minutes later came the landmark score which was greeted by the biggest cheer of day. As Stewart Roddy completed his hattrick Limavady broke the 1000 point barrier for the season in Q3. And there was still for more. Just one more minute passed before that man Roddy crossed the line again. Scrum half Jamie Millar added two conversions before grabbing a try for himself on 54 minutes. Peter Wilson resumed kicking duties to kick his sixth conversion of the day. In the final play of the game Ophir attacked the Limavady try line, but the Q3 champions were not for letting the last play of the season resulting in a try for the opposition. A strong defence lead by the experienced trio of Houston, Purcell and McCloskey kept the home side at bay and forced a turnover. With the ball being cleared into touch referee Sloan brought the game, and also the season to a close.
Full Time Ophir 12 Limavady 73
Team. S. McLaughlin, S. Houston, R. Lamberton, M. Haslett, S. Roddy, P. Wilson, J. Millar. C. Scott, J. Blair, A. McIlmoyle, J. Purcell, M. Rice, M. McCloskey, P. Browne, S. Mackey.
The seconds also called time on their 2015/16 season as they finished a very creditable fourth in Junior League 4, but on the last day of the season Armagh 3rds proved to be too strong and ran out convincing 55-10 winners at the Palace Grounds.
