Monaghan 51 OPHIR 26
The Monaghan Bio-Sciences sponsored 1st 15 continued their league campaign with a big home win over a determined and physically strong OPHIR team. Darren Berry was captain on the day with Richard Carleton unavailable to play and helped himself to no less than 31 points. The game was played in ideal conditions for open running rugby and both sides took full advantage running in a total of 10 tries between them. Amazingly, considering the high scoring, it took a full 20 minutes for the 1st score to arrive. Monaghan had dominated these opening exchanges and looked the more likely to score. Disappointingly for Monaghan they conceded a relatively soft try on the 1st occasion that OPHIR put a decent attack together. The score took some of the wind from the home sides sails but on the half hour mark Darren Berry got them on the score board with a relatively straightforward penalty kick. From the restart, Monaghan secured good possession and looked to attack from wide. Alan McKenna made a superb break from midfield and kept the ball alive wonderfully when OPHIR defenders eventually caught him. Two quick passes later and Darren Berry sailed in under the posts for a try he duly converted for a 10-7 lead. On 36 mins, the home defence was breached again. Monaghan had failed to escape from their own half after the restart and after a series of scrums in the Monaghan 22, OPHIR scored a converted try. 2 Darren Berry kicks restored Monaghan’s lead before half time. Half time score 16-14………. CLICK HERE for the full report.
