Photo Caption – UUC RFC Rugby Development Officer, Gareth Millar pictured with match ball sponsor Gareth Knox of Pest Solutions, with his son Callum.
The University of Ulster, Coleraine sponsored by Pest Solutions, entertained Lisburn RFC on Saturday looking to make it three wins in a row and succeeded with a hard fought 24-19 bonus point win.
With the wind blowing down the pitch the students decided to play into the wind and pushed Lisburn right back from the kick-off after great chasing from Michael Dunleavy. Great turn over play by from the UUC forwards forced Lisburn wide on the right and quick hands from the student backs set Sam Hall free wide on the left wing to score. Lee Murphy added the simple conversion.
Lisburn responded positively from the early student try and proceeded to attack their defence before finding space for their winger to squeeze through before sprinting in under the posts. The conversion was added and the scores tied. The away side looked to build on this and a bad pass from the UUC backs led to an intercept and Lisburn to score again in the corner. The conversion was missed but Lisburn were now in control.
After the early set back and being behind, UUC started to build phases and a penalty for ruck infringements allowed Murphy to kick for the lineout. Great build up play led to UUC being awarded a scrum for a knock on and from the scrum the ball was spread wide and Sam Hall again bust through to score his second try. Calum Rowden missed the difficult touchline kick.
With the scores tied at 12-12 UUC pushed to make their momentum count and great forwards play at the ruck allowed Andrew Winder to release Rowden down the middle of the park and from the edge of the 22 danced his way through the Lisburn defence to score under the posts. Murphy added the conversion and that left the students 19-12 up at half time.
After the half both sides looked to add to their points total but it was the students who struck first. A quick bit of play from the UUC forwards allowed Sam Hall to break the Lisburn defence and run in from the half way line to score his third try of the game. Murphy missed the difficult conversion.
Lisburn knowing a converted try would earn them a losing bonus went on the attack and after great play and ill-discipline from UUC put Lisburn right on the home sides try line. Twice Lisburn attacked the UUC line with their big rumbling forwards and twice were held up and after several reset scrums drove over to score. The try was converted and the score was now only 24-19.
With minutes left on the clock UUC fought hard in defence to hold out Lisburn who now had all the momentum but an offside in the middle of the park gave UUC the chance to kick for the posts and deny Lisburn their losing bonus point but alas, it wasn’t to be as the wind caught Murphy’s attempt and pulled it wide of the posts.
At the final whistle UUC were 24-19 winners having been made to work very hard for it and now look forward to their All-Ireland Semi-final match against Carlow IT before welcoming Belfast High School Former Pupils to Cromore Road for the penultimate game of the season.
• Match day sponsor – Pest Solutions
• Photo Caption – UUC RFC Rugby Development Officer, Gareth Millar pictured with match ball sponsor Gareth Knox of Pest Solutions, with his son Callum.
