| Having
beaten Antrim in the away fixture earlier in the season High School were
looking to repeat the victory in this home match. With the weather good
overhead and the pitch in firm order the conditions were right for running
rugby . |
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| With
both Derek Wilson and Neil Hastings out through injury Ian Elliott took up
the centre position , Kyle Brown filled the wing berth and Chris kitchen
moved to outhalf. In the forwards Ben Hanvey returned to the back row and
Jonny Price joined Gareth McManus in the second row. |
| The
game got underway with High School immediately asserting their authority
much to the delight of the large home supporting crowd. It was only 8
minutes before the points started to accumulate with the first try scored
by Chris Kitchen in the corner from a sweeping back line move. The try was
unconverted . |
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| At this stage of
the game High School were dominant in all phases of play , particularly
the scrum where although Antrim were overall bigger and heavier their
advantage was outweighed by better technique in the front row. In
the lineout again High School had the edge and on a number of occasions
managed to secure possession on the Antrim throw. Antrim initially
defended well but after 15 minutes the second try had been scored from a
classic catch and drive . The ball finished up in the hands of Stuart
Thompson at the rear of the maul and a good 15 metre push took him over
the line for the points. The try was unconverted.
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|
Within 5 minutes the next
try was scored . Again this started with a catch and drive at the lineout.
The ball on this occasion however was released to the backs and a good
break by Chris Kitchen saw him go in for his second try of the day. Pete
Taylor converted .
With Antrim now very much
on the defensive High School seemed to be cruising but as so often happens
the foot was taken off the gas and for the remainder of the half High
School failed to put further points on the board. On a couple of occasions
tries might have been scored but for a final pass going to ground or a
wrong decision. Antrim for their part did very little to threaten the High
School line and with Stuart Thompson leaving the field after 35 minutes
the High School team were reduced to 14 until the half time whistle.
|
HALF TIME
BHSFP 17
- 0 ANTRIM
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The second half got
underway with the High School team restored to a full compliment and
Antrim a player down through injury. Uncontested scrums were introduced
for a short period until the balance was restored.
High
School started this half in a more positive way than they finished the
first. Unfortunately much against the run of play Antrim put the next
points on the board when an unfortunate intercept allowed an Antrim player
to sprint to the line for the try. The try was unconverted.
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Stung by this score High
School came back with an immediate response and a try from the restart
kick. This one was secured by winger Gareth Adams who received the ball
which had been pinched off Antrim at the restart Gareth sprinted to the
line for the try which was converted by Pete Taylor.
With the second quarter
now well behind them High School went on the offensive. The team for the
first time in a number of weeks clicked into gear and found their natural
rhythm. The forwards secured copious amounts of ball for Jonny Mayne and
Chris Kitchen to call the shots in the backline. Excellent work by Pete
Taylor from restarts continually put the pressure back on Antrim who in
turn had little answer to the flowing rugby being played by High School.
|
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High School were now
permanently camped in the Antrim 22 and it was only a matter of time
before further points were scored. In fact the next two tries came in
exactly the same fashion from a perfectly executed catch and drive
situation and were both scored by Ben Hanvey at the rear of the maul. Both
tries were converted by Pete Taylor.
With
High School now well in the lead the ball was being moved about the field
at every opportunity . The next points, after 20 minutes of the half, came
from full back Jordon Frampton who received the ball in a good passing
move . With only one defensive player to beat and two men outside him
Jordon cheekily dummied the last man and went in for the points.
|
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| With the High School backs now
running at Antrim virtually at will and supported by the forwards who
themselves were not found wanting when it came to open running play the
next try was scored by Kyle Brown on 22 minutes. This again followed a
sweeping passing move which saw Kyle up in support to receive the ball and
run in the try.
|
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| As two players were
now on two tries each the watching Alikadoos were hoping that one of the
two , either Ben Hanvey or Chris Kitchen , would get the hat trick and buy
the jug. Much to the delight of the crowd and indeed the team the next try
went to Chris Kitchen . This was a well taken try by Chris who cut through
the Antrim defence like a knife through butter. The try was converted by
Pete Taylor.
On the promise of one jug the crowd were
hoping that Ben would secure the next try and make it two jugs but the
opportunity was denied as the referee had seen enough and stopped the game
7 minutes early . |
|
On this particular
occasion the High School team showed the type of rugby they can play
scoring 9 tries in the process. A lot of hard work was done in the
forwards by the likes of John Balmer ,Stuart Thompson and Ben Hanvey to
allow the backs to express themselves and with the improving ability of
backs to ruck and maul the ball was regularly secured . This was an
impressive performance and will auger well for the run in to the end of
the season. |
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| Next week its
University Of Ulster Coleraine at Home. |
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|
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| Labor
Ipse Voluptas |
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