Due to the excessive heat and humidity it was agreed to play four sessions of 15/20 minutes so to allow for sufficient water breaks and Down High 2nd XV emerged with a fine victory.
An unbelievable start to the match with what could be the fastest ever try scored by a Down team. Jamie Gibson collected Niall Gregg's kick and sped down the wing to score an unconverted try. Noble came back into the game but it was Down who scored next with Chris Heenan taking advantage of a quick penalty to score under the posts. John Hyndman converted to make it 12-0 to the visitors. Noble showed some good signs but unfortunately knocked on at vital times. Down finished the first period with two excellent converted tries of differing quality. First a passage of play starting deep in their own 22 saw most of the team handle the ball and Niall Gregg finished off the move and straight from the kick off Elliott Evans managed to evade a number of tackles to see Down lead 26-0.
Down conceded a penalty straight from the kick off and a series of pick and drives gave Noble a fine score in the corner to reduce the arrears. It wasn't long until Down were back on the front foot and a nice break by Ewan Martin allowed Callum Duncan to cross for a try which Gregg converted. A quiet period of play followed with both teams cancelling each other out but Down had the final say in the period when a quick penalty gave scrum half Thomas Forson his first try of the tour. Conversion was missed to give Down a 38-5 lead.
Down started the third period on the front foot and should have gone further ahead but a last gasp tackle prevented Ewan Martin from scoring. Having played the whole of the period in the Noble half it wasn't until the last play of the period that Chris Beattie bundled over for a converted try. This took the score to 45-5.
Noble started the final period on the attack but once again Down's defence repelled the attack and they found themselves in the Noble 22 quickly. Fine opportunism by scrum half Forson gave him his second try which Hyndman once again converted. The last passage of play almost saw a great try from Chris Heenan who chipped ahead from his own half but just couldn't collect his kick but soon after prop Stuart Cochrane completed the scoring with a converted try to leave the final score 59-5.
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