LONDONDERRY YMCA    V    BHSFPRFC

In the run up to Christmas the League takes on a new significance as teams start to consider either the possible New Year fight to avoid the drop or stay at the top and seek the promotion title. This Match had all of the ingredients of the latter as far as Londonderry YMCA were concerned. They knew that the visit of High School to Drumahoe would present a test which could possibly determine the outcome of their season.    

As for High School recent performances have been below par but as tends to be the rule the team deliver against the quality opposition and in this case it turned out to be no different. With Davy Henry back in the squad after his recent lay off the forward pack had a more robust look about it. Unfortunately David Mayne was unable to play and was missing from the back line.

With a hefty band of travelling supporters watching, the game got underway in good conditions on a reasonably firm pitch and from the start it was High School who dominated the play. Both sets of forwards set about it hammer and tongs with little opportunity for attacking play from either back division. For the first twenty minutes High School were camped in the YM half of the pitch but were unable to convert the pressure into points.

This was a day when the forwards had to front up and they certainly did that in style with Andy Morrison having an immense game alongside Jonny Price, Davy Henry and Jonny Teret. As usual Michael Lavery was everywhere and with a front row of Balmer, McManus and Scott the YM pack were struggling to dominate. It was only the quality of their defence and a couple of “old heads” in the pack that prevented High School from securing the game from early on.

With the game thirty minutes old and a couple of penalty attempts having been exchanged the game got a bit fractious as both sides got frustrated. The end result was two yellow cards , one to Jonny Murphy and the other to the YM prop who was fortunate that his card was not of the red variety.

Two minutes later the first points were on the board as Tim Murphy slotted over the penalty to take High School towards a half time three point lead.

HALF  TIME        LONDONDERRY YMCA  0     -    3   BHSFP  

With the game poised to go in any direction the second half got underway with High School again dominating the loose play. While scrums and line outs were fairly evenly contested it was in the driving maul that saw High School show their strength and on a number of occasions in this half they marched the YM pack lengthy distances up the pitch.

The backline were now also starting to get into the game more. Up to this point it had been largely defensive but with a regular supply of ball coming to Jonny Mayne there were opportunities to move the ball wide. In the centre Jonny Murphy and Chris Kitchen combined well with Matthew McNutt coming into the line. This in addition to some probing kicks from Tim Murphy had the YM team under great pressure in this third period of the match. But as sometimes happens a lapse of concentration by High School led to a score by YM much against the run of play. With the game being played in the YM 22 a penalty award was taken very quickly allowing the speedy YM centre to run in for the score. With the conversion secured YM were now leading but High School were not intending to let matters rest.

As the game hit 20 minutes in the second half and with High School again putting pressure on the home side good work by Scrum Half Jonny Mayne switched play following the set piece. The ball was fed to Phil Wright on the wing and with a bit to do he completed the move with a try in the corner. The conversion was missed but High School were again deservedly in the lead by one point.

Up until this point in the match the YM pack had been fortunate not to have received a yellow card for persistent infringement as the High School side dominated the forward play. Unfortunately it was High School who suffered as Michael Lavery was yellow carded. With Michael, who had been playing out of his skin , off the pitch the YM pack were able to assert themselves at a crucial point in the game and switch the pressure against High School . For the next ten minutes, as the match approached the final whistle High School defended as YM attacked continually. The High School defence was excellent but with the award of a very kickable penalty with the half 39 minutes old the home side converted and went into a two point lead.

The referee had declared some time left and with Michael Lavery restored to the pitch High School went on the offensive again . An attempted catch and drive narrowly failed to deliver points and as the game was drawing to a close a penalty award came High Schools way. The attempt at goal was taken but was narrowly missed by Tim Murphy as the home support could barely watch.

This proved to be the final opportunity of the match as the referee brought this excellent game of rugby to a close.

FINAL  SCORE        LONDONDERRY YMCA  10   -    8  BHSFP       

In the end although the home side narrowly secured the points High School can be content that on the day they were dominant in virtually all departments and were unluckly not to have beaten the League leaders on their home turf.

Our thanks go to William Lamrock and Londonderry YM for their excellent hospitality and we look forward to returning the compliment in the home fixture. 

Next Week its Ballyclare at home in a pre Christmas cracker !  Be There or miss a great day!!

Labor Ipse Voluptas