Down High 1st XV 83-0 Illinois Tornados

A truly exceptional performance from the Down High 1st XV as they completed their tour with the most emphatic of victories. Having started slowly against NorCal Pelicans they improved against the Washington Loggers but in this game they certainly peaked not only on this tour but perhaps for the season. Seven unanswered tries in the first half reflected the dominance of the tourists. Ronan Patterson scored the first of his tries in the corner after a pick up at number 8 from Zac Ward. Man of the match Ward was the next try scorer after a scrum was won against the head. Marcus Graham and Alex Martin were denied try scoring opportunities with a rogue bounce of the ball and a last gasp tackle. The next two tries were results of excellent backs moves with Jack Carlisle instrumental in setting up Harry Hitchens before Robin Wilson set up Paddy Browne. Not to be outdone the forwards finished the scoring in the first half with first Tom Martin taking an inside pass from Lewis Finlay and Zac Ward going in unopposed from 15 metres with a quickly taken free kick. The half time score was 43-0 to the Down boys.
 
The scoring continued early in the second half as William Annett cut through the Tornados defence. It was then nice to see all fifteen players on the pitch being U6th students. Nonetheless the scoring continued as Hitchens fielded a fine cross field kick and Ward completed his hat trick with a pick up from the base of the scrum five metres out. The last ten minutes allowed head coach Mr Gunson the chance to play a side of only L6th and Year 12 players and they were equally as impressive as their U6th counterparts. Alex Martin, Lewis Finlay and Harris McConnell completed the scoring for a comprehensive 83-0 victory.