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| High
School travelled the short distance to Mallusk to play Ophir in a must win
league fixture. High School made several changes in the pack from last
weeks defeat with the experienced McManus coming in for Best in the second
row, Thompson for Fowles in a straight swap at hooker, Hanna moving to
lock for Westland and Graham Scott taking over the blind side spot. The
back line didn’t escape the selectors attention with Rice coming in at
centre and Kitchen moving to out half for the injured Irvine. |
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The
game started off at a fast pace with High School winning the early loose
balls and making good ground into the hosts half. Chris Kitchen opened
High Schools account with a strong run from midfield after a well worked
short line out but Ophir responded immediately with a penalty in front of
the posts. With the game
delicately poised McKeown endeared himself to the ref hitting him full in
the face from two yards in an attempt to change the ball. That aside the
first half was a scrappy battle against the wind with the High School pack
starting to dominate in the scrum and using the driving maul from secured
line to good effect. |
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Morton and Hanna seemed to be everywhere in attack
and defence and made a number of driving runs into the hosts territory.
Deservedly Morton got the second try storming down the right wing
following good line out work from Mark Lamb. Coasting at 10 –3 up High
School relaxed and Ophir once again clawed their way back into the game.
With half time looming the High School defence was tested repeatedly but
no ground was given – Ophir eventually opting for an easy three points.
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Half
Time : Ophir 6 v 10 High School
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After
strong words from the coach during the break and assisted by playing down
the hill with a favourable wind, High School soon began to dominate.
Finding himself unexpectedly stranded at out-half with the Ophir loose
forwards bearing down on him, Frampton took a snap drop goal attempt from
30 metres out. The ball hit an upright but evaded the foraging School pack
who were all given off side anyway. However from the ensuing penalty Ophir
failed to clear their lines and the ball was quickly shifted to the
opposite wing for Neil Hastings to score in the corner. Pete Taylor
converted from the touchline. |
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the pack now well on top there was plenty of good ball for the backs.
McKeown and Rice set up the full back for the fourth try of the day – a
well rehearsed move on the Ophir 22m line saw Colin James bursting through
on the angle – a deft off-load from McKeown sending the full back under
the posts to put the result in no doubt. Taylor converted to leave the
score 24-6. High School then cut lose with two tries in as many minutes. |
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Frampton determined to get on the score sheet,
powered his way over in the corner after a good drive by the pack. Taylor
again converted to take High School 31-6 ahead. Hastings then went in on
the opposite wing following a series of scrappy line outs with Ophir
unable to clear there lines into the strong wind. The referee allowed the
try despite Ophir protestations that the ball had been dropped. Unusually
the partisan High School touch line support concurred with the referee - the
try wasn’t converted in the difficult conditions.
This was a better performance from the School and
with no injuries and a solid display from the 2nd XV
preparation and selection for next weeks encounters with Letterkenny and
Holywood will begin in earnest on Tuesday night.
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| Labor Ipse Voluptas |
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