LONDONDERRY  YMCA    v    BHSFP RFC

Here we go again , another long season to look forward to beginning with the first League fixture in section 2 following promotion last term.

In sharp contrast to the abysmal weather around South East Antrim the weather at Drumahoe was dry and clear and set fair for a good game of rugby. High School travelled to meet Londonderry YMCA in the knowledge they would be facing the team that finished third in Section 2 last season and would need to be on top form to come away with a victory.

The High School side showed a few changes in personnel, with Jonny Mayne unavailable the scrum half berth was taken up by Jonny Birch and with a couple of players also unavailable through injury the team had a slightly different look about it. It was good to see John Balmer back to fitness following his lengthy injury spell last season.

The game got underway with High School receiving the kick off and facing what there was of the elements. It was clear from the start that the pack was going to find the going difficult against a well drilled and physical YMCA outfit . It was High School whoever who got the first points on the board from a penalty converted by Tim Murphy after only 4 minutes of play. Honours were pretty even up until ten minutes when unfortunately new signing Jonny Murphy suffered a bad shoulder injury which forced him of the field for the remainder of the match.

With a man down High School were forced to re jig their defence and set pieces and cover the inevitable gaps that would arise. The local side soon began to put the pressure on through the forward pack and with the defence constant attack High School conceded a converted try on 17 minutes.

The High School pack came back into the game in the minutes that followed with good work by Captain Andy Morrison supported by Owen Sweeney . Some good ball was secured but with little room to move in the backs and a good covering defence a couple of opportunities came to nothing. However, High School were generally holding their own in the set piece with the lineout working particularly well through the jumping of Paul Shaw and the throwing in of Gareth McManus. Gareth did well to stay on the pitch and was functioning under pressure having taken a very heavy knock earlier in the game.

The additional man was always going to tell and with a build up of pressure the YMCA side took control utilising the gaps to secure two further converted tries in a 4 minute spell which took them well ahead on the scoreboard. High School were not lying down however and fought back hard to secure a penalty just before half time. Tim Murphy did the honours again .

The second half started with the YMCA pack again exerting pressure on the High School side with the same outcome as the first half. The local team secured two tries in a difficult ten minute spell for High School. These scores took the home side into an unassailable lead which could have meant the opening of the flood gates but the visitors had other ideas and perhaps to the surprise of the opposition stepped up a gear and started to move the ball about .

The High School backline, which up to this point had acted largely in defence suddenly found their feet with ball in hand and began to cause some panic in the home defence. With the half thirteen minutes old the ball was moved across the backline but was stopped short. Good support by the loose forwards resulted in Owen Sweeney forcing his way across the whitewash for a well deserved try. Converted by T Murphy.

Within two minutes the High School crossed the line again . This time it was Chris Kitchen who brook the home defence with a trademark bursting run to plant the ball down, again converted by Tim Murphy.

High School at this stage had closed the gap with the home side and were playing their best rugby of the match. Unfortunately a good breakout try by YMCA saw them take the initiative once again to re-establish a substantial points gap.

However , High School were not finished yet and with thirty  minutes of the half over Andy Ervine crossed in the corner for a well taken try to bring the High School points tally to a well deserved 25.

As the game moved towards the final whistle controversy arose when Brian McGreal was penalised and given the yellow card by the referee for persistent lineout infringement . This had emanated from a tussle with the YMCA number 4 who lost the rag and was shown the red card for foul play.

The final action of the game came from another unconverted try by the home side on forty minutes of play.

FINAL SCORE    LONDONDERRT  YMCA  45    -    25  BHSFP RFC

This was a difficult baptism in Section 2 for the High School side but plenty of positives can be taken from it. With a full side on the pitch the points difference between the sides would have been undoubtedly less. Some hard work is needed to ensure that the good play in the second half which resulted in three tries kicks off earlier but overall the players can look forward with confidence.

Thanks to the support contingent who travelled to Londonderry.

We look forward to the return fixture when the game will no doubt be closer and we will have the opportunity to repay the excellent hospitality shown to us by William Lamrock and his club.

Labor Ipse Voluptas