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VIRGINIA RFC
U16s March On In Search For Three In A Row
Virginia RFC U16s travelled to Portadown RFC on Saturday for their Ulster Cup semi-final, as they looked to put the disappointment of the previous weeks All Ireland semi-final behind them. It felt like Summer had finally arrived on a glorious sunny morning, so the water bottles were filled and the Virginia side set out to make their third consecutive Ulster Youth Cup Final.
The home side started strongly bringing the game to Virginia, but the black wall held firm with some excellent tackles from Robert Lochaden, James Farrelly and Callum Finane frustrating the attack. Once Virginia had weathered the early storm they started to build their way into the game with rapid ball from the breakdown supplied by Adam Sherriff, and the usual orchestrating of the backs by Adam Charters. The front row had another good day with Jamie Osborne, Killian Collins, and John Smyth more than comfortable on their own put in and causing Portadown problems on theirs. Adrian Lynch ran the lineouts with aplomb, so Virginia soon dominated every aspect of play in the first half, and great hands out wide exposed some frailties in the host’s defence allowing David Gibney, Conor Nulty, Niall Carolan, Mark Gibney, and Paddy Gordon all to touch down. Three great conversions from Michael McKeon-Boyle gave Virginia a 31-0 lead at the break.
A long hard season began to take its toll on Virginia, and niggly injuries soon surfaced. Ryan McGuigan and Ryan Moloney came on into the front row, Callum Caswell continued his return from injury in the pack, and Jason Henderson was introduced into the backs. Portadown again began the half strongly, and this time got their just reward as they got themselves on the scoreboard. The visitors though were not to be denied, and another try apiece for Niall and Paddy, split by the further introductions of Jake White Duffy, John Dolan, and Luke Morris soon put the game out of sight, Michaels additional conversion opening up a thirty eight point lead. Portadown were a proud side though, and continued to fight all the way until the final whistle scoring another converted try to make the final score 43-12 to Virginia.
It will be as momentous day for the Club on Saturday 28th April, with two sides in the Ulster Youth Cup Finals at the Kingspan Stadium in the same season for the first time. Both the U14s and U16s are trying to secure League and Cup Doubles, the U14s taking on Ballymena RFC, and the U16s taking on Clogher Valley RFC.
