| Letterkenny
travelled to Greenisland to face High School in an important league match
.
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| The
High School team took the field as selected with the exception of team
captain Peter Taylor who was forced to withdraw late due to injury. Peters
place in the front row was taken by club coach Davy Scott.
|
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| The
game was played on an excellent surface, it was fine and dry with no more
than a stiff breeze blowing.
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| The
game got under way with the High School immediately taking the game to the
bigger Letterkenny pack. For the first ten minutes High School camped in
the Letterkenny half and exerted pressure both in the scrums and in loose
ball situations. It was evident that High School although much smaller and
lighter in the pack were more proficient in scrum technique . A testament
to the many hours of hard work put in on the scrummage machine on Tuesday
nights. |
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| The
first scoring opportunity fell to High School after 12 minutes play when
Letterkenny were guilty of an offside but unfortunately the resulting
penalty was missed. |
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| High School continued to
pressurise the Letterkenny defence which stood firm. After the opening
fifteen minutes had elapsed there was still no score and Letterkenny were
now beginning to assert themselves and move the game into the High School
half more often. High School for their part defended well and continued to
force play back to Letterkenny. This was exemplified by a moment on 16
minutes when under great pressure on their own line the ball was secured
from loose play and cleared by Phil McKeown virtually to the opposition
five metre line. This allowed High School the field position
to create the situation for the first try of the game after 17
minutes play. From a scrum on the Letterkenny five meter line the ball was
moved left. A switch move created the opening for Chris Kitchen to go over
. The try was converted by Jordan Frampton.
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| The
game continued to ebb and flow but the High School pack were always in the
driving seat and when the ball was released to the backline it was clear
they were a major threat to the Letterkenny defence. On at least three
occasions it was only the last pass going astray or a last ditch tackle
that prevented High School scores. On one such occasion the Team Manager (
Andy Mayne ) literally ended up in the ditch as Neil Hastings attempted to
cross the Letterkenny line and was taken out by two defenders.
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| Unfortunately
High School were reduced to 14 men when Stephen Morton was yellow carded
after 31 minutes play. This allowed Letterkenny to take the upper hand for
a short time but the High School defence was sound. High School were
restored to 15 men just before half time without loss of points.
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| HALF
TIME BHSFP
7 - 0 LETTERKENNY
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The second half started with
High School facing into the breeze and defending their territory for a
lengthy spell as Letterkenny were determined to get on the score sheet. As
usual pressure leads to scoring opportunities and sure enough Letterkenny
were awarded a penalty after 5 minutes of the second half. The penalty was
missed but the High School remained under pressure during this spell and
it was only through sound first up tackling and aggressive defence that
prevented the line being crossed. In this regard Davy Scott led from the
front and was supported by a High School pack determined in every respect
not to step backwards.
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| High School survived this
opening second half onslaught by Letterkenny and were now dominating the
scrums more than ever. The pressure from Letterkenny eventually told and
they put their first points on the board after 17 minutes of the second
half when from five metres out they pushed over for the try which was
converted. The scores were now level and everything to play for.
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| Over the next period High School
reasserted their dominance of the game with the back row in particular
controlling loose play and killing any opportunities coming the way of
Letterkenny. This was exemplified when after 25 minutes of second half
play High School mounted a major attack on Letterkenny which resulted in a
fine try by Jordan Frampton. The try came from
excellent ruck ball moved wide in a sweeping move to allow Jordan
to go over. Jordan also converted the try.
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| For the remainder of the second
half Letterkenny continued to
throw everything at the High School defence but again it stood firm and
when the backline got into gear there was always the possibility of
further scores.
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| The final points of the game
went to High School after 37 minutes when Letterkenny ran the ball from a
set piece . The ball was spilled in the centre of the pitch after Ian
Elliott put in the tackle of the match . John Balmer was on hand to pick
up and feed the backs who needed no second invitation. Again the ball was
moved wide to Jordan Frampton who went over for his second try which he
again converted. |
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| The game came to a close with
High School the deserved winners with three good tries in the bag and a
display of sound technique, aggression and skill taking the game. |
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FINAL
SCORE BHSFPRFC
21 -
7 LETTERKENNY
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Labor
Ipse Voluptas |
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