| With
the League programme half completed and promotion positions still to play
for High School welcomed Ophir to Greenisland for the return local derby
match having defeated them earlier in the season at Mallusk. This was
expected to be a tightly fought encounter , typical of the games when
these sides meet.
Conditions were good for
running rugby with the surface in fine order and only a slight breeze to
trouble the kickers. |
 |
|
The game started with both sides battling for possession and control up
front . The High School pack just about had the edge in this early period
with the backline only occasionally getting an opportunity to move the
ball . However the backline were the first to strike after 15 minutes when
the forward pack took the ball into the Ophir 22 from where it was moved
left across the pitch to Gareth Adams on the wing. Gareth needed no second
invitation and ran in the try which was duly converted by Peter Taylor.
Unfortunately this coincided with a bad leg injury to the High School No 8
Davy Hanna who was forced to leave the field for the remainder of
the game. Ophir also lost their No 8 at the same time leaving both teams
with fourteen players.
The game continued with High
School dominant in the scrum with honours fairly even in the lineout.
Ophir continued to force the game to High School and as expected were
rumbustious about the pitch causing High School problems in the loose. The
loose work of Ophir paid dividends when after 25 minutes of play they were
awarded a penalty which was converted to close the gap in the score. |
|
With the incentive of the penalty points Ophir continued to threaten High
School territory and were soon on the score sheet again when after 33
minutes of play good work by the Ophir pack allowed their backs to run the
ball in for a converted try.
The game continued to half time with no further score .
|
 |
| HALF
TIME
BHSFP
7
-
10
OPHIR |
|
The
second half started much the same as the first although High School were
clearly better organised following the loss of Davy Hanna. The lineout
started to function consistently and the forwards upped the ante in the
scrum and around the pitch in the loose. The first up tackling improved
and good work by Ian Elliott in the centre threatened the Ophir defence on
a number of occasions. |
 |
| With
12 minutes of the second half elapsed Ophir lost their prop due to a leg
injury and uncontested scrums ensued. This was a definite drawback to High
School who had been enjoying the better of the battle up front with
PeterTaylor , Davy Scott and Ben Hanvey driving forward on every occasion.
In the second half this trio were outstanding in the loose with Ben Hanvey
in particular securing copious amounts of ball on the deck and generally
making life difficult for the Ophir pack.
|
| After 15
minutes of the half High School notched up their second try of the day
when from a clean lineout catch the resulting maul was driven over for the
score by Stephen Morton. The try was converted by Peter Taylor. This put
High School in the lead and seemed to knock the wind out of the visiting
team sails as continued pressure from High School allowed the Ophir team
little room to threaten High School territory for the rest of the match.
|
 |
| From
this point on the game was dominated by the High School pack with the
backline attacking on a number of occasions. This was not however one of
the better days for the backs by their own very high standards. Their
defence was excellent but they were unable to click into top gear in
attack . A couple of good runs by Neil Hastings on the wing almost led to
scores and an excellent run by Ian Elliott nearly created a score by
himself but was instrumental in setting up the next High School try. From
around the Ophir 22 Ian received the ball and weaved his way through the
Ophir defence but was stopped short of the line . With a ruck then
established Jonny Mayne drove forward again and was taken to ground. With
the Ophir line only a metre away Stephen Morton was on hand to pick up and
drive over for the try. The try was unconverted.
|
| The
large contingent of High School supporters didn’t have to wait long for
the next try which came after
30 minutes of the second half and again from a rolling maul . The ball was
worked up the pitch from 20 metres out and Jonny Price was on hand to dive
over for the try which was unconverted. |
 |
| With
the High School now well in the lead and very much in control up front it
was inevitable that the pack would continue to utilise the tactics which
had worked so well in this half. The next try was almost a carbon copy of
an earlier score . From a line out to Ophir on their own 22 Jonny Price made
a great steal . The ball was contained in the forwards and the resultant
maul drove to the Ophir line in perfect style to allow Stephen Morton in
for his third try of the day
( another Jug in the bank !! ) .The try was converted by Peter
Taylor. |
| Ophir
continued to defend their line but had no answer to the domination of the
High School pack and the tightness of the backline defence. |
 |
| The
final try of the day came after 40 minutes of play in the second half and
fell to Ian Elliott who was on hand to charge down an attempted Ophir
clearance , pick up neatly and touch down for the score . The try was
converted by Peter Taylor. |
| The
game finished without further points being added . |
 |
| FINAL
SCORE BHSFP
38 -
10 OPHIR |
|
Next week its
Academy at home -
All supporters are very welcome.
|
 |
| Labor Ipse Voluptas |
|
