On Saturday 3rd of September Down High played Bangor away.
We started the morning with a conditioned game which started with 15 minutes of us attacking. Nathan Gibson was the only one to score. Their open side flanker in particular put in numerous big hits. After this we had a short break and then we defended for fifteen minutes whilst Bangor attacked. We defended well but unfortunately conceded a try to their inside centre.
After the conditioned game we went into a full game which also included our first time lifting in lineouts. During this time, we scored five tries. James Martin and Rory Kerr each scored two and Jack Patterson got one. We only conceded two, meaning we had quite a comfortable victory. Both of these again came from their inside centre.
We played as a very strong team though-out the game. Nathan Gibson made many good runs. Stuart Cochrane hit and cleared every ruck. Stephen Martin threw well at line outs, rarely missing his mark. Mark Hannah put ‘fire wall’ and ‘safety’ from earlier training sessions well into practise. Callum Duncan played very well. The flankers Patrick Preston and Elliot Evans both made crunching tackles. James Martin had strong running and two tries at number eight. In the back line both scrum-half’s Chris Heenan and Thomas Forsen played well. Ross Carlisle and Matthew Davidson organised the back line well keeping everyone in check. All the centres played well, Nathan Cairns, Christy Mason, Jack Patterson, Luke Sandford and Rory Kerr, with Rory and Jack getting three tries between them.
The two wings Euan Martin and Jamie Parke both ran complicated moves to confuse both Bangor and our forwards! Rueben Black defended and kicked on form as full-back. George Smyth had an unfortunate game breaking his wrist after only a short while.
All in all a successful game, with particular thanks to the coaches and especially Mr Carson, who coached us from the side line, who took the time out of their day to take us, and the bus drivers.
By Duncan Ross
We started the morning with a conditioned game which started with 15 minutes of us attacking. Nathan Gibson was the only one to score. Their open side flanker in particular put in numerous big hits. After this we had a short break and then we defended for fifteen minutes whilst Bangor attacked. We defended well but unfortunately conceded a try to their inside centre.
After the conditioned game we went into a full game which also included our first time lifting in lineouts. During this time, we scored five tries. James Martin and Rory Kerr each scored two and Jack Patterson got one. We only conceded two, meaning we had quite a comfortable victory. Both of these again came from their inside centre.
We played as a very strong team though-out the game. Nathan Gibson made many good runs. Stuart Cochrane hit and cleared every ruck. Stephen Martin threw well at line outs, rarely missing his mark. Mark Hannah put ‘fire wall’ and ‘safety’ from earlier training sessions well into practise. Callum Duncan played very well. The flankers Patrick Preston and Elliot Evans both made crunching tackles. James Martin had strong running and two tries at number eight. In the back line both scrum-half’s Chris Heenan and Thomas Forsen played well. Ross Carlisle and Matthew Davidson organised the back line well keeping everyone in check. All the centres played well, Nathan Cairns, Christy Mason, Jack Patterson, Luke Sandford and Rory Kerr, with Rory and Jack getting three tries between them.
The two wings Euan Martin and Jamie Parke both ran complicated moves to confuse both Bangor and our forwards! Rueben Black defended and kicked on form as full-back. George Smyth had an unfortunate game breaking his wrist after only a short while.
All in all a successful game, with particular thanks to the coaches and especially Mr Carson, who coached us from the side line, who took the time out of their day to take us, and the bus drivers.
By Duncan Ross