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High School travelled to
Coleraine for an encounter with the students of UUC on a perfect day for
rugby.
The team showed a couple
of changes from the previous week with Davy Scott returning to the front
row due to the absence through injury of John Balmer . In the second row
Jonny Price partnered Bryan McGreal and in the backs Ian Elliott returned
to the centre with Barry Taylor at full back .
The game got under way
with the High School immediately showing their intentions by securing good
ball and running at the students . Only four minutes of the game had
elapsed when the first points were scored. These fell to Gareth Adams who
finished off the move after good second phase ball had arrived with him on
the wing. The conversion was missed.
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High School continued to
play in the students half but unfortunately the game was only ten minutes
old when Jonny Price was forced off the pitch with an ankle injury. Good
work by Ken McBride saw him patched up and back on ten minutes later.
With Jonny missing in the
second row the pack was reshuffled and immediately secured clean ball from
a scrum . Jonny Mayne gave a sweet pass to half back partner Chris Kitchen
who scythed through the Coleraine defence for a neat try. Pete Taylor
converted.
The
High School pack were dominating the game and providing excellent ball for
the top of the ground running backs to attack the students. For their part
the students pack fought hard to secure some ball but the backline offered
little in attack. Any ball moved wide by Coleraine was immediately killed
by strong tackling from centres Ian Elliott and Jordan Frampton
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With eighteen minutes of
the match gone High School struck again through flying winger Neil
Hastings who, on the day hit a real purple patch . On this occasion the
ball was secured following a period of loose play and swiftly moved wide
to Neil on the wing to go in at the corner. The conversion was missed.
This
was the first of four tries scored by Neil , three of which came
consecutively making the perfect hat trick The second was on 23 minutes
when again, ball secured from loose play found Neil on the wing . Strong
running and the trademark handoff allowed him in for the points which Pete
Taylor converted making the score twenty four nil to High School at the
half time break.
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HALF
TIME UUC
0 -
24 BHSFP
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With the
second half only five minutes old |Neil struck again for his third try.
This one was really out of the proverbial top drawer. From his own 10
metre line Neil rampaged up the touchline side stepping and handing off
players one by one until he crossed the Coleraine line. The conversion was
missed. The High School supporters were jubilant at the thought of at
least one “JUG” secured.
By
this time High School were dominating all aspects of the game although UUC
continued to make life difficult up front for the High School eight.
Superb angles of running and interplay by the backline allowed them to
express their undoubted ability to the extent that they were having a
virtual free reign with ball in hand.
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The next
points came after a further five minutes when up stepped Jordan Frampton
to secure the first of his three tries on the day . The ball was moved
right from a scrum to Jordan who set off at a blistering pace , bypassing
four UUC defenders and scoring the try. Pete Taylor converted.
With
the second half twelve minutes old the frustrations of the UUC pack came
to the fore and a stand up boxing match erupted following a set scrum.
After the melee had calmed down the referee immediately drew the red card
and dismissed the Coleraine No 4 for use of the knee. This incident marred
what was otherwise a game played in good spirit.
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From the resultant
penalty High School cleared the ball up the pitch for a line out.
Clean ball off the top was moved to Jordan Frampton in the centre
who cut through the student defence like cheese wire through ripe Brie to
score the second of his tries under the posts. Pete Taylor converted.
With UUC a man down and
uncontested scrums now a feature of the game the High School pack
concentrated efforts in securing loose ball and winning excellent
possession from the line out. In this regard Gareth McManus was spot on
with his throwing allowing Jonny Price and Davy Hanna to dominate .
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The next score was
secured by Jonny Mayne who picked up from a scrum 10 metres from the
Coleraine posts and cheekily sniped over the line when the gap opened up .
Team Manager Andy Mayne and the assembled masses were in the throws of
applauding Jonny,s certain try when he almost ran back across the line
before touching down virtually on the line itself. Not good for the
writers blood pressure !! Peter Taylor converted.
Within a couple of
minutes the score increased with the last of Neil Hastings four tries.
This was a perfectly executed move when from a set piece Neil came off his
wing and took the inside pass from Chris Kitchen to cut through the
Coleraine defence and score. Pete Taylor again converted.
The
second JUG of the day was secured after 28 minutes of the second half when
the Coleraine backs in a rare attacking move mishandled the ball. Jordan
Frampton was on hand to pick up and sprint to the line for the last and tenth
try of the game. Pete Taylor converted .
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With something in the
region of 10 minutes left to play the referee brought the game to an end.
On the day the High
School team clearly demonstrated their abilities both up front and in the
backs . With ten tries in the bag the team is now coming together as a
cohesive unit . With further hard work by the players under the coaching
of Davy Scott and with Derek Wilson in support continued progress and most
of all enjoyment of the game should result.
Congratulations
to Jordan and Neil for their hat trick’s and by the way , don’t forget
the two jugs , next week will do !
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FINAL SCORE
UUC 0
- 64
BHSFP
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| Labor
Ipse Voluptas |
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