Down High arrived at a cold Lurgan Rugby Club on Saturday wearing their new kit but missing a few keys through injury and other commitments. Down High knew they were in for a very physical game and started off poorly by conceding a try out wide where the Lurgan backline used their pace to score. The conversion was not successful, score 5-0 to Lurgan.
At the restart, Charlie Power used his precision to successfully land the ball in space. Immense pressure by Michael Reynolds led to a lineout on the 10 metre line. Lurgan managed to steal the ball from the lineout and use their backs to attempt to break the line but Rowan McWilliams wasn't having any of it and stopped their attack swiftly. This then lead to Lurgan using their forwards to try to break the defensive line, but William Martin formed a maul and thanks to great strength from Alex Martin and Andrew Heenan, the maul was turned over giving Down a penalty just inside Lurgan's half. Power kicked the ball into touch just before Lurgan's 5-metre line. Peter Morrison sent a beautiful ball toward the lineout which was missed by Down High's jumper but fell nicely for James McBride who scored next to the posts. Power added the 2 points making the score 5-7.
Lurgan reacted quickly to this and used quick hands and good pace on the wing to score another try before half time. Bringing the score to 10-7 after they missed the conversion.
The second half began much like the first; Down again conceding a try to be 15-7 down after the conversion was yet again missed. Thanks to strong runs from Aaron Chambers and Paul Forbes, Down High began to make ground. Then a huge carry from William Martin left Down High with another penalty. Charlie Power kicked it to touch however Down High lost the lineout, Lurgan's fullback kicked straight into the arms of Reuben Ashe who then made a great run but failed to score a try. Zac Ward then came on for Andrew Heenan and led some offensive runs and made crucial tackles as well as offering more ferocity in the breakdown. Fellow Under 14 players Clayton Milligan, Lewis Canning and Paddy Browne all entered the fray and showed their physicality in defence however the latter had to be replaced after unfortunately receiving a blow to the nose.
Down High upped their intensity towards the end of the game, led by Reynolds, Martin and the impressive McBride in the forwards and Philip Smyth and Robbie Stewart in the backs. In the last play of the game a big carry from William Martin lead to a ruck, which Ewan Keers spotted a gap and backed his pace and power to get past the cover defence, Power then missed the conversion. The final score was a close 15-13 to Lurgan.
At the restart, Charlie Power used his precision to successfully land the ball in space. Immense pressure by Michael Reynolds led to a lineout on the 10 metre line. Lurgan managed to steal the ball from the lineout and use their backs to attempt to break the line but Rowan McWilliams wasn't having any of it and stopped their attack swiftly. This then lead to Lurgan using their forwards to try to break the defensive line, but William Martin formed a maul and thanks to great strength from Alex Martin and Andrew Heenan, the maul was turned over giving Down a penalty just inside Lurgan's half. Power kicked the ball into touch just before Lurgan's 5-metre line. Peter Morrison sent a beautiful ball toward the lineout which was missed by Down High's jumper but fell nicely for James McBride who scored next to the posts. Power added the 2 points making the score 5-7.
Lurgan reacted quickly to this and used quick hands and good pace on the wing to score another try before half time. Bringing the score to 10-7 after they missed the conversion.
The second half began much like the first; Down again conceding a try to be 15-7 down after the conversion was yet again missed. Thanks to strong runs from Aaron Chambers and Paul Forbes, Down High began to make ground. Then a huge carry from William Martin left Down High with another penalty. Charlie Power kicked it to touch however Down High lost the lineout, Lurgan's fullback kicked straight into the arms of Reuben Ashe who then made a great run but failed to score a try. Zac Ward then came on for Andrew Heenan and led some offensive runs and made crucial tackles as well as offering more ferocity in the breakdown. Fellow Under 14 players Clayton Milligan, Lewis Canning and Paddy Browne all entered the fray and showed their physicality in defence however the latter had to be replaced after unfortunately receiving a blow to the nose.
Down High upped their intensity towards the end of the game, led by Reynolds, Martin and the impressive McBride in the forwards and Philip Smyth and Robbie Stewart in the backs. In the last play of the game a big carry from William Martin lead to a ruck, which Ewan Keers spotted a gap and backed his pace and power to get past the cover defence, Power then missed the conversion. The final score was a close 15-13 to Lurgan.
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