OPHIR FIRSTS MARCH ON
Ophir produced a brilliant second half display to register a 46-5 home win over Virginia.
The match at the Cottonmount last Saturday was billed as the Clash of the Titans - the top two teams in the Kukri Qualifying League Section 4 battling it out for ultimate supremacy. Top of the table Ophir, supported by MCW properties and Biffa, met second placed Virginia and the first half of the match fully lived up to expectations.Â
In an uncanny repeat of the start of the ...
OPHIR FIRSTS MARCH ON Ophir produced a brilliant second half display to register a 46-5 home win over Virginia. The match at the Cottonmount last Saturday was billed as the Clash of the Titans - the top two teams in the Kukri Qualifying League Section 4 battling it out for ultimate supremacy. Top of the table Ophir, supported by MCW properties and Biffa, met second placed Virginia and the first half of the match fully lived up to expectations. In an uncanny repeat of the start of the game against Armoy the previous week, a try was scored in the first minute but this time it was Ophir who were stunned by the speed of the Virginia backline and conceded the score in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed and the match then settled into a midfield battle, both teams producing great running rugby but neither able to penetrate the opposition defences. That is, until the half hour mark when the Ophir pack gained a bit of momentum 5 metres from the Virginia line and second row Kenny Morton squeezed through the tiniest of gaps to touch down. Fullback David Walker was unlucky to miss the conversion but at least Ophir were back on level terms. As the half drew to a close, Virginia were pressing for the lead but the Ophir tackling was good enough to deny any scoring opportunity. No one could have predicted the incredible change of fortune for Ophir in the second half. The forwards began to dominate the set pieces and with an abundance of possession, the backs ran everything at the visitor's defence. Neil Grey was the first to break through, scoring close to the posts and Walker converted. Then the fullback added a penalty to his tally, closely followed by tries for centre Cillian Rooney and outhalf James Milligan. Then Carl Davis combined brilliantly with brother Anthony to crash over the line. Walker again converted and Ophir were 34-5 in the lead. But Virginia didn't give in too easily, taking play to the Ophir line, and it was only an unfortunate misunderstanding in the line out that prevented a score. Back came Ophir and winger Stevie Hastings added his name to the scoresheet, neatly sidestepping his opposite number to touch down at the corner flag. Virginia then lost a player; red carded for throwing a punch, and Ophir rounded off a miserable day for the County Cavan men with a second try from Milligan. The final score was Ophir 46 Virginia 5.
ARMAGH SECONDS CONFERENCE EARN WIN OVER STRABANE Armagh 2nds beat Strabane 1st XV 22-12 in a Qualifying 2 Conference League game on Saturday at the Palace Grounds. In what was an overcast autumnal day and with both sets of forwards getting to know one another, the backs were playing a peripheral role in what was to turn out to be a error ridden game. On fifteen minutes, debutant centre Michael Campbell cut through the Strabane defence from 30 metres out to touch down at the posts for a good opening try. With the conversion from Andrew Knipe, Armagh led 7-0. Strabane fought back by bringing play into the home 22 for a period. This resulted in a try in the corner after an overlap was created on 23 minutes. As play resumed, handling errors from both sides spoiled several opportunities to add to the scoresheet. Girvan and Knipe combined well to put Davy Martin clear 30 metres out to score a good try in the corner. With the conversion unsuccessful, the half time score was 12-5 to Armagh. On the restart, Strabane upped the ante with Armagh spending some time on the back foot. The scrums were a cause of concern for the home eight and at times it was only good work by Stephen Morton at 8 and Girvan at 9 which retrieved the situation. Throughout the game, Straghan, Monaghan and fullback John McDonagh were combining well to provide go forward ball. On 60 minutes after some neat off loading between the forwards, Stephen Morton went on a charge to the line some 15 metres out with several Strabane defenders hanging on. Much to everyone's amazement he crossed at the corner flag for an unconverted try (17-5) to Armagh. At this stage the home support were expecting the home side to push on to close the game out, however Strabane had other ideas. They retorted immediately with a converted try under the posts to bring the score back to 17-12. The remainder of the game was spent in the Strabane 22 and after some forward exchanges, Lewis Morton scored a deserved try in the corner to seal a 22-12 win for Armagh.
OPHIR FIRSTS MARCH ON Ophir produced a brilliant second half display to register a 46-5 home win over Virginia. The match at the Cottonmount last Saturday was billed as the Clash of the Titans - the top two teams in the Kukri Qualifying League Section 4 battling it out for ultimate supremacy. Top of the table Ophir, supported by MCW properties and Biffa, met second placed Virginia and the first half of the match fully lived up to expectations. In an uncanny repeat of the start of the game against Armoy the previous week, a try was scored in the first minute but this time it was Ophir who were stunned by the speed of the Virginia backline and conceded the score in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed and the match then settled into a midfield battle, both teams producing great running rugby but neither able to penetrate the opposition defences. That is, until the half hour mark when the Ophir pack gained a bit of momentum 5 metres from the Virginia line and second row Kenny Morton squeezed through the tiniest of gaps to touch down. Fullback David Walker was unlucky to miss the conversion but at least Ophir were back on level terms. As the half drew to a close, Virginia were pressing for the lead but the Ophir tackling was good enough to deny any scoring opportunity. No one could have predicted the incredible change of fortune for Ophir in the second half. The forwards began to dominate the set pieces and with an abundance of possession, the backs ran everything at the visitor's defence. Neil Grey was the first to break through, scoring close to the posts and Walker converted. Then the fullback added a penalty to his tally, closely followed by tries for centre Cillian Rooney and outhalf James Milligan. Then Carl Davis combined brilliantly with brother Anthony to crash over the line. Walker again converted and Ophir were 34-5 in the lead. But Virginia didn't give in too easily, taking play to the Ophir line, and it was only an unfortunate misunderstanding in the line out that prevented a score. Back came Ophir and winger Stevie Hastings added his name to the scoresheet, neatly sidestepping his opposite number to touch down at the corner flag. Virginia then lost a player; red carded for throwing a punch, and Ophir rounded off a miserable day for the County Cavan men with a second try from Milligan. The final score was Ophir 46 Virginia 5.
ARMAGH SECONDS CONFERENCE EARN WIN OVER STRABANE Armagh 2nds beat Strabane 1st XV 22-12 in a Qualifying 2 Conference League game on Saturday at the Palace Grounds. In what was an overcast autumnal day and with both sets of forwards getting to know one another, the backs were playing a peripheral role in what was to turn out to be a error ridden game. On fifteen minutes, debutant centre Michael Campbell cut through the Strabane defence from 30 metres out to touch down at the posts for a good opening try. With the conversion from Andrew Knipe, Armagh led 7-0. Strabane fought back by bringing play into the home 22 for a period. This resulted in a try in the corner after an overlap was created on 23 minutes. As play resumed, handling errors from both sides spoiled several opportunities to add to the scoresheet. Girvan and Knipe combined well to put Davy Martin clear 30 metres out to score a good try in the corner. With the conversion unsuccessful, the half time score was 12-5 to Armagh. On the restart, Strabane upped the ante with Armagh spending some time on the back foot. The scrums were a cause of concern for the home eight and at times it was only good work by Stephen Morton at 8 and Girvan at 9 which retrieved the situation. Throughout the game, Straghan, Monaghan and fullback John McDonagh were combining well to provide go forward ball. On 60 minutes after some neat off loading between the forwards, Stephen Morton went on a charge to the line some 15 metres out with several Strabane defenders hanging on. Much to everyone's amazement he crossed at the corner flag for an unconverted try (17-5) to Armagh. At this stage the home support were expecting the home side to push on to close the game out, however Strabane had other ideas. They retorted immediately with a converted try under the posts to bring the score back to 17-12. The remainder of the game was spent in the Strabane 22 and after some forward exchanges, Lewis Morton scored a deserved try in the corner to seal a 22-12 win for Armagh.