Randalstown 1XV 14  Ophir 1XV 22

Last Saturday a resurgent Randalstwon welcomed a strong Ophir side to Neilsbrook Park. Both sides came into the game in a confident mood after wins the previous Saturday against Virginia and Strabane respectively.

The opening 5 minutes were scrappy. Sloppy Ophir handling gave the home side a scrum close to the away side’s 22. Excellent work by the front five drove a much heavier Ophir unit back allowing the backs to throw the ball wide. However a lack of support unfortunately allowed the away side to clear their lines up to half way.          

 The Town lineout has been in good form in recent weeks. Despite the challengers, Andy Lorimer, who was sporting a haircut that makes him look more and more like his idol Addie Patterson, rose above the rest to secure possession and set the home side up for another attack from deep. Once again, good defence by the away side prevented any score.

            Ophir’s first clear cut chance brought a try. A series of forward drives, and despite good work from Mark Mulholland and Ryan Ings, the Mallusk side scored from close range. The conversion was missed which kept the score at 0-5.

            Randalstown started to press, with captain Dan Wilson to the fore. A series of forward drives from the base of scrums threatened to reply for Town but unfortunately the half time whistle was blown.

            It didn’t take long for Joe Graham’s Red and White army to trouble the scorers in the second half. Superb work by Town’s forwards forced Ophir to make a handling mistake 20 metres out. The resulting scrum was quickly released and a couple of dance moves reminiscent of Ivan Richardson helped Kyle Lyness dodge his way through the Ophir defence to score his third try of the season. Steven French slotted the conversion to make it 7-5.

            The away side’s heads started to drop as Randalstown began to get a grip of the game. Once again, excellent work by Davy Millar and the guerrillaesque Ryan Keating started the move of the match. An expansive back move resulted in Ben Winter to calmly draw his opposite number and offload to Ryan McGarry. McGarry, still with plenty to do, beat the winger, drew the full back and released Captain Dan to run in from an alleged 20 metres. Once again the conversion was easy and brought the game to 14-5 to set up a tense last 20.

            Straight away Town went looking for another score with Ben Winter looking to get in on the act. Breaking a tackle and bursting through the line, he was unfortunate not to score. A desperate tackle by the full back prevented a certain try and let the away team off the hook.

This seemed to wake the away side up and the game became a forward tussle. However good tackling from French and a try saving effort by summer signing Sammy Hyndman prevented a score. After a spell of stop start rugby, the referee awarded a dubious penalty to the away team allowing their giant second row to lunge over from 5 metres. The conversion was again missed leaving Town still 14-10 up.

            The final 10 brought about a slower tempo. Ophir started to dominate possession, and despite a brave effort, they scored in the corner. Their third conversion was missed to set up an even tenser finale. Randalstown unluckily lost the ball and with the final play of the match Ophir scored to leave the final score 14 – 22.

            It was an unfortunate end to a game which so nearly brought a well earned victory to the home side. Their next game is up at UUC in two weeks time, and will be a great chance to get the season back on track.

 

Randalstown: Anderson, Winter, French, Mulholland, McGarry, Lyness, Walker, D Millar, Finlay, Keating, M Millar, Lorimer, Ings, Hyndman, Wilson ( c )