UUJ Secure League Win In Style with Bonus Point Win
Abbey Insurance sponsored UUJ played QUB/Strand at home in the “Student Sport Ireland League” on Wednesday 18th March at Jordanstown
It was a very nervous game for the home side as they were missing a number of key players with injuries, front row player, Ross Harkin and centre Niall Kelly and needing at least a bonus point to secure the league. The two sides had met early on in the season in a friendly at “The Dub” where QUB had come out easy victors
The game started badly for the home team as small mistakes crept into the game giving the visitors small advantages. QUB were intent on using these and played a very effective offloading game, it was only six minutes into the half when poor communication from UUJ in defence let the visitors in for an unconverted try , 0-5
This scoreboard advantage seemed to kick UUJ into action and they began to play with a bit more confidence. This led to the forwards becoming more dominant and getting clean ball for the backs, a great pass from outhalf Jamie Millar to full back Ross Bryans gave Bryans time to kick over the heads of the advancing defence, Bryans caught his own kick and scored in the corner, conversion missed, 5-5.
The game settled down and was played much between the two 22’s however another defencive infringement by UUJ let QUB kick 3 points, 5-8.
Again this had an affect on the home side and they went through some good preset moves, the strength of their pack again delivered clean ball for their backs and some great handling let centre Daniel Irvine crash through the visitors defence to score just at the posts, converted by Bryans, 12-8.
QUB came back at them forcing another penalty within kicking range which they took, 12-11.
The half ended with the visitors catching a kick inside their own 22, their outhalf kicked a lovely weighted kick to the wing which his winger collected and ran the length of the pitch to score a converted try, 12-18.
UUJ had a firm halftime talk and started the second half a different side, the pack were more aggressive and handling skills sharp, they dominated the breakdown area and this gave the backs good clean ball which gave them time to create moves with. QUB just couldn’t get back into the game and this possession for the home side resulted in an early try by Rory Carson who forced his way through the defence to score an unconverted try, 17-18.
Although a bonus point was enough to seal the League win it was too early to settle down and the visitors were not going to let UUJ get away with a win. They came back hard in attack but the home side had got back into the pattern of defence and attack and it was not long before centre Irvine scored his second try of the match converted by Bryans, 24-18.
QUB had no answer for this second half performance and in the closing stages slow ball out their back line on their 22 saw second row Brendan Ferguson intercept a pass and sprint in under the posts, converted by Bryans, 31-18 final score.
This side had shown how well they had come on this year in their first year back in “SSI Rugby” winning all their league matches and securing the League. They now wait the result of the draw for their opponents in their pursuit of All Ireland College Rugby, hoping its not Carlow away!
Team
1.Jordan Elliot (Portadown)
2. Ricardo Manso (No Club)
3. Troy Wilson (Academy)
4. James Meggarity (Instonians)
5. Brendan Ferguson (Limavady)
6.Curtis Badger ( Academy)
7.Ryan Dennison (Banbridge)
8.Mathew Rodgers (Dungannon)
9.Jamie Millar (Limavady)
10.Jamie Millar(Limavady)
11Jamie Wilson (Hollywood)
12.David McClelland (Randlestown)
13. Lloyd Johnston (No Club)
14.Jason Mackey (Dromore)
15.Ross Bryans(c) (Academy)
16.Phelim Trainor (Rainey OB)
17.Alasdar henderson (No Club)
18.Rory Carson (Banbridge)
19.David Irvine (Limavady)
20.Conor Murray (Randalstown)
21.Connor Spence (Ballymena)
22.Peter Hughes (No Club)
Coach :- Mark Henderson
