MATCH  REPORT

BHSFP RFC    V    LISBURN  RFC

Visitors Lisburn travelled to Greenisland for this League fixture against hosts Belfast High School Former Pupils.

On a rather miserable afternoon with drizzle continually falling the teams took the pitch with High School showing some changes from the previous week. With both Michael Lavery and Peter Taylor unavailable, Jonny Terret and Brian McKernon stepped up to the mark in the second row and front row respectively. In the backline Jonny Murphy returned to the centre following injury.

The match started well for High School with the referee awarding an early penalty after only two minutes on the clock. The points were secured by outhalf Tim Murphy who neatly slotted over the kick .

All the early pressure was coming from High School who were unfortunate not to go further ahead after two further penalty opportunities were missed. However, with twelve minutes of play gone the first try of the match was scored by Hooker Gareth McManus. This followed a driving maul which Lisburn were unable to stop. The conversion was missed but High School were now eight points to the good and very much in control of the game.

The Lisburn side fought hard but were being matched in all facets of play by the young High School side. The visitors did however gain some momentum in the second quarter of the game and following an incursion into High School territory they were awarded a penalty which was converted by the outhalf.

Lisburn were now back in contention but the position was shortlived as the High School back line began to show their paces with some good ball secured by the pack. With twenty six minutes gone centre Jonny Murphy cut a swaithe through the Lisburn defence whose cover was found wanting on this occasion. The touch down was secured under the posts by Jonny and duly converted by brother Tim. High School now had a twelve point cushion as the game moved towards half time.

The remainder of this half saw High School threaten the Lisburn line continually and but for some errors in handling the gap could have been widened considerably. Lisburn however finished the half with a penalty on thirty six minutes of play and were clearly intent on improving their performance in the second half.

HALF  TIME       BHSFP  15    -    6  LISBURN 

The second half got underway with High School receiving the ball and immediately coming under a spell of sustained pressure from a more fired up Lisburn pack. The High School defence was to be tested but with Captain Chris Kitchen leading by example there was no way through for Lisburn as ferocious tackling stopped any advance in its tracks.

Once again a couple of penalty opportunities arose for both sides but were not secured and with seventeen minutes of the half gone Lisburn were reduced to fourteen when the scrum half was forced off through injury.

The remainder of this half was nip and tuck with both sides enjoying both territory and ball possession. The High School were unfortunate not to secure further points following some good attacking play.

The Lisburn side were also aggrieved when the referee disallowed a late try attempt adjudging that the ball had not been grounded following a driving maul and ruck situation.

As the game moved to a close there were no further points added and the second half remained scoreless in its entirety. The referee blew the final whistle with High School justifiable winners on the day following a good display in both attack and defence.

FINAL  SCORE        BHSFP  15    V    6  LISBURN       

Next Week its away to Ballyclare – all support welcome.

Labor Ipse Voluptas.