DONAGHADEE    V    BHSFPRFC

High School took the field at Donaghadee with a front row combination of Peter Taylor , Davy Scott and Gareth McManus back in harness at hooker. In the second row Chris Mills was elevated from the seconds to join Jonny Terret.

With Tim Murphy unavailable at outhalf the backline took on a new look with Matthew McNutt moving to outhalf, David Mayne to centre and the Kitchen Brother trio taking up the back three positions.

The game got underway with High School facing uphill and against the stiff breeze. It was clear from the start that the elements would play a significant part in the proceedings in the first half. High School found it very difficult to gain territory for lengthy periods of time and were unable to create any significant forward momentum with the ball in open play. They were not helped by some unfortunate breaks of the ball and allowed the home side at least two soft tries through a combination of bad handling and poor cover tackling. It was Donaghadee however who took the initiative overall and accumulated thirty four points in the half from five tries and a penalty against a single score by High School. The High School score followed a good drive up field and roll over for the try by Andy Morrison.

Although the score in this half was very much against them High School were doing well in both scrum and lineout and the pack held the upper hand in all aspects of loose play regularly driving the opposition up field.

The first half finished with High School knowing that they needed to drag themselves back into the game and would have the advantage of the wind and the pitch slope in the second half.

HALF  TIME        DONAGHADEE  34    -    5  BHSFP

In the second half High School went on the offensive and the home side found life a lot more difficult.

With the half seven minutes old High School got on the score sheet again with an excellent catch and drive try taken by Peter Taylor. The try was well converted by Matthew McNutt.

The game continued with High School controlling both the set piece and maul situation but unfortunately the wider ball was not functioning well on the day and the normal potency of the High School back line was limited. Their defence in the second half however could not be faulted with no quarter being given or asked.  The home side were much more in defensive mode in this half and were relying on the large lead built up in the first period to see them through the game. High School however scored again in similar fashion with twenty minutes of the half gone and this time it was Davy Scott who went over. The conversion was missed and suddenly there was hope for the visitors with twenty minutes left and the pack in control. The home side looked uneasy and knew that they would have to defend strongly to prevent their lead disappearing.

Donaghadee clawed their way out of danger on a number of occasions in the last twenty but High School continually pushed them back and fought hard for the next points. The Home side defence was good however and the visitors were unable to cross the line again before the final whistle. Unfortunately just minutes from the end High School lost Jonny Mayne to the sin bin and Peter Taylor was forced from the field following an injury sustained earlier in the match. 

In the end the gap that Donaghadee had established in the first half was crucial and on the day High School were unable to recover from that setback. Despite the difference in score this was a very competitive match and High School can take some positives from the manner of their display in the second half.

FINAL  SCORE        DONAGHADEE  34    -    17  BHSFP    

Our thanks go to Donaghadee for the excellent pre match lunch and hospitality.

The 1^st XV have no match next week but the Seconds are at home to Monaghan in an important League fixture while the Thirds are also at home to Larne in the first round of the McCambley Cup. There’s plenty of rugby to be watched and your support will be most welcome.

The next match for the 1^st XV is away to League leaders Londonderry YMCA on December 15^th. It’s a fair distance to travel but again your support will be most welcome if you can make it.

Labor Ipse Voluptas.