Down High Under 13s triumph in local derby.
Down High U13: 31 Ballynahinch RFC U13: 5
Report by Lewis Canning
On a damp, windless morning, the Down High boys made their way to the High School, Ballynahinch to face Ballynahinch Rugby Club in a friendly fixture. The boys knew a lot of the players from the opposition, but this did not change their attitude towards their rugby.
From the start to the finish the Down boys played with great aggression and intensity. It was clear the Hinch lads had not faced this type of rugby this season. Trademark runs from the blind side flanker Zac Ward got the game started, as also did good runs by Marcus Graham and Claytan Milligan. The Down pack was struggling to get good, quick, clean ball for the backs in the 1st half and efforts by Lewis Canning and Rory Horder were not quite enough to push the Hinch boys back off the ball. With the game entering the second quarter, the pack were starting to get back to the usual and blowing out rucks with great aggression. This got good ball for the backs to work their magic and when the ball was spun out to Marcus Graham on the wing and he used his pace, acceleration and side step to get the first score of the match. This left the score at 5-0 to the down boys; Paddy Browne successfully put his practice to good use and placed the ball beautifully between the posts.
Now that the Down boys had ‘tested out’ Hinch they began to capitalise on their mistakes and kept adding to the scoreboard with tries from Marcus Graham, Sam Rickard, Paddy Browne, and William Annett. Although Hinch did have their moments and their second row forward was able to pick and drive from the ruck to get over for a consolation score to leave the Mount Crescent boys victorious by 31 points to 7.
Men of the match: Lewis Canning and Marcus Graham.
Down High U13: 31 Ballynahinch RFC U13: 5
Report by Lewis Canning
On a damp, windless morning, the Down High boys made their way to the High School, Ballynahinch to face Ballynahinch Rugby Club in a friendly fixture. The boys knew a lot of the players from the opposition, but this did not change their attitude towards their rugby.
From the start to the finish the Down boys played with great aggression and intensity. It was clear the Hinch lads had not faced this type of rugby this season. Trademark runs from the blind side flanker Zac Ward got the game started, as also did good runs by Marcus Graham and Claytan Milligan. The Down pack was struggling to get good, quick, clean ball for the backs in the 1st half and efforts by Lewis Canning and Rory Horder were not quite enough to push the Hinch boys back off the ball. With the game entering the second quarter, the pack were starting to get back to the usual and blowing out rucks with great aggression. This got good ball for the backs to work their magic and when the ball was spun out to Marcus Graham on the wing and he used his pace, acceleration and side step to get the first score of the match. This left the score at 5-0 to the down boys; Paddy Browne successfully put his practice to good use and placed the ball beautifully between the posts.
Now that the Down boys had ‘tested out’ Hinch they began to capitalise on their mistakes and kept adding to the scoreboard with tries from Marcus Graham, Sam Rickard, Paddy Browne, and William Annett. Although Hinch did have their moments and their second row forward was able to pick and drive from the ruck to get over for a consolation score to leave the Mount Crescent boys victorious by 31 points to 7.
Men of the match: Lewis Canning and Marcus Graham.