UUJ Bonus Point Win over Rivals UUC
The Abbey Insurance sponsored UUJ travelled to Coleraine University on Wednesday 26th November to play Campus rivals UUC in the “Student Sport Ireland League” in an eagerly awaited encounter.
The game was played infront of a large home crowd and started well for the visitors. The forward domination gave their backs a number of attempts at an early score but Coleraine’s defence held well denying Jordanstown a try, however a home infringement did let UUJ take the lead with a well kicked penalty by outhalf Conor Murray, 0-3.
UUC came back and soon brought play within twenty metres of the visitors line with a lineout. Good work by UUJ flanker Curtis Badger saw him win the oppositions ball and pass to scrumhalf Jamie Millar but as Millar went to pass he slipped and lost possession which was quickly pounced on by a UUC forward who ran in for the first try of the match which was converted, 7-3.
UUC had their heads up in this derby match, and 20 minutes into the game created an attack out wide scoring an unconverted try. Soon after the restart they had the same opportunity but excellent defence by UUJ stopped another score,12-3.
The home side dominated possession for most of the rest of the half but great defence by Jtown stopped them creating any danger however a miscomuniction finally let the home side go in for their third try which was unconverted, 17-3.
Such was the spirit of Jtown they fought hard for the last few minutes of the half and after a dominate Jtown scrum, scrumhalf Jamie Millar broke through UUC defence going in under the posts for Conor Murray to convert, !7-10 H/T
After a strong team talk UUJ started the second half intent on taking the spoils but the home side defended well and it was the home side who were to score first with an unconverted try, 22-10.
Jtown had the belief and did not let history of past defeats come into play , they attacked from the restart soon letting Millar score his second try, conversion missed, 22-15,
UUJ started to control the game, their pack had the better in the set piece and their backline ran cutting lines and distributed the ball well, it was not long before Ricardo Manso scored, converted by the other Jamie Millar ( yes they have two), 22-22.
The excitement built with thirteen minutes to play and UUJ wanting to come away with a win kept possession resulting in “man of the match” scrumhalf Jamie Millar cutting through the defence with good support scoring at the posts converting his own try resulting in a final score of 22-29.
This result puts UUC in pole position of the SSI league which now goes into a Christmas break,
After the match UUJ captain Try Wilson said “Good to get a good result today. The boys have been training hard and to get a result and performance like that against UUC is great for the team. I would like to thank UUC for their hospitality and wish them the best for the season”.
UUJ Team
1.Jordan Elliot (Portadown RFC)
2 Ross Harkin (City Of Derry RFC)
3 Troy Wilson (c) (Academy RFC)
4 James Megarity (Instonians RFC)
5 Brendan Ferguson (Limavady RFC)
6 Curtis Badger (Academy RFC)
7 Mathew Rodgers (Dungannon RFC)
8 Scott Carse ( Malone RFC)
9 Jamie Millar (Limavady RFC)
10 Conor Murray (Randlastown RFC)
11Jamie Wilson ( No Club)
12 Nial Kelly (NUM Barnhall RFC)
13 David McClelland ( Randalstown RFC)
14 Lloyd Johnston (No Club)
15 Jason Mackey (Dromore RFC)
16 Ricardo Manso (No Club)
17 Phelim Trainor (Rainey OB RFC)
18 Peter Hughes (No Club)
19 Conor Spence (No Club)
20 John Joe Magee ( No Club)
21 Jamie Millar (Limavady RFC)
22 Lloyd Crawford ( No Club)
Coach:- Mark Henderson
