|
| |
BHSFP 23 v Instonians IV 0
|
| Tries :
Kris Porter, A McCormack, D Wright |
| Convs: A McCormack |
| Pens: R Atkinson
(2) |
The Former Pupils 2ndXV stayed at home this
weekend to face Instonians 4thXV, on a sunny afternoon with a slight
breeze. The home side, after last weeks unlucky defeat arrived at the
ground looking to prove themselves. Andrew McCormick returned to his
spiritual home on the 2ndXV to Captain the side as Jordan Frampton got a
well deserved call up. Andrew Irvine and Kris Beattie came in for the
unavailable Kyle Brown and Gareth McKeague, showing great depth in the
backline. In the forwards Jonny Price filled in for Paul Lavery and Greg
Fowles put his boots on for the first time this season to replace the
absent Rory Beattie.
The first period of the game proved to be evenly contested, with both
teams making significant excursions into opposition territory. However
after 10 minutes the home side broke the deadlock as Scrumhalf Richard
Atkinson slotted an easy penalty from the 22-yard line.
3,0
Less than 5 minutes later Instonians gleaned their own penalty but the
score remained 3,0 as the attempt failed. The Former Pupils swiftly
regained possession from the restart. Kris Beattie came of his wing to
receive the ball in the centre of the pitch, to place a cheeky chip kick
behind the visiting centres. Kris Porter having an eye for the line took
the opportunity to close on the ball and use his knees, not his hands, to
knock the ball into the dead ball area and drop on it for the score.
Atkinson was unsuccessful with the conversion.
8,0
20 minutes of the game had passed, during which Outhalf Andrew Irvine
showed excellent proficiency in his positional kicking, when try scorer
Kris Porter was forced to leave the field with an injury to his ankle. 2
minutes later a stoppage of play was caused by an injury to the Instonians
number 4. However delay was not long as the robust lock promptly rejoined
the game.
The visiting team received a boost with 10 minutes remaining as their
eagerly awaited prop joined his teammates on the pitch. As if to nullify
this affect Kris Porter returned to the field of play at the same
stoppage.
With 4 minutes remaining in the half the High School stole a scrum against
the head, showing their earlier exchanges had not been due to the visitors
starting the game a man down. Feeling satisfied thus far Porter sat on the
wing for the remainder of the half, so as not to aggravate his ankle
further.
Half Time 8,0
In the second half the Former Pupils faced the prospect of playing into
the wind, which seemed to pick up around the half time marker, bringing
spits of rain that thankfully never materialised into a shower.
Instonians began this half on the front foot putting the home side under
pressure from the outset. Inspirational kicking by Andrew Irvine relieved
the pressure and changed the momentum of play. The reward came after 8
minutes of the half when Atkinson added 3 to his personal tally with a
penalty attempt.
11,0
At this point in the game Prop Mark Marno fielded a kick beautifully and
took off up the wing. The run was surely to end in a try but for a slight
foot in touch.
After 15 minutes Richard Atkinson read the advantage from a penalty and
attempted the Drop Goal unfortunately the points were never to come and
the home side settled for the kick to touch.
20 minutes had gone in the half when the Former Pupils had their first
opportunity to cross the Inst line in the second half. Wing David Wright
took off up the blindside inside the 22 with support from Lock Andrew
Meek. Only a superb defensive effort by the visitors wrapped up Wright to
prevent the offload and hence the try.
However a mere 3 minutes later the ball was spread to the opposite wing
where David Wright appeared, creating the overlap, and receiving the
sweetest of passes from Kris Beattie. Wright breezed in for the try in the
corner. The conversion, by Atkinson, did not sail through the uprights,
despite the best efforts of Touch Judge David Rice, who volleyed the ball
from behind the posts.
16,0
The next period saw Instonians in the ascendancy, with fairly constant
possession and pressure on the Former Pupils. The score line forced the
visitors to spurn occasional penalty chances to go for the try. With so
many charges at the defence the High School back row of Jonny Price and
Randal Lavery found it easy to repeatedly show their tackling ability.
Mark Marno made another statement of intent to the High School selectors
with another wonderful highball take with 5 minutes remaining. I feel a
change of position to fullback coming on.
In the last play of the contest Captain and Centre Andrew McCormick
rounded off a great performance with an excellent individual try. Gaining
the ball inside his own half ,Pixie, McCormick sliced through the Inst
defensive line to meet the fullback one on one. The High School Captain
then cut to his right, confusing the visiting fullback, who fell over, and
jogged in for the try. He dropped his own conversion successfully.
Full Time 23,0
|
|
|
|
|
|
