Newry 8 Limavady 27
In the final league outing of the season, it was a mixture of youth and experience that took to the field at Telford Park. With a cup final on the horizon, Head Coach Paul O’Kane used the game to rest a few players. This in turn presented the chance for a few guys to stake a claim for one of the twenty coveted jerseys for the Ravenhill showdown against Larne.
Richard McCollum returned after injury and joining him in the back row was Karl Miller. It was almost a new backline. The versatile Johnny King moved from the wing to inside centre where he was joined by Jaime M Miller. Also making their first team debuts were Jamie Gault on the wing and Scott McClean at full back.
And it didn’t take long for the new faces to show what they could do. On five minutes Jamie Gault combined with centre Jamie M Miller and he released Scott McClean who evaded the covering Newry defence to score in the corner for an early 5-0 lead. This early score settled the youngsters and along with Luke Faulkner and Stewart Roddy were causing all sorts of the problems for the home defence with their strong runs.
Score number two of the day arrived on 15mins. This time it was Jamie M Miller who touched down after good work from Faulkner released Johnny King and released his supporting centre partner, Scott McClean added the conversion and it was looking like a repeat of the opening day 59-0 victory was on the cards again. But the Newry have been unbeaten at home for over two years and were determined to keep that run going, and totally bossed the last 15mins of the half.
A converted penalty got the scoreboard ticking and then on 30 mins reduced the gap to four points after some uncertainty in the visitors defence following a high up and under from the Newry out half. Newry thought they got in for another try on the stroke of half time but a great covering tackle from scrum half, Jamie Miller prevented the Mourne Men from going at the break in front.
Half time Newry 8 Limavady 12
Limavady had the advantage of a strong breeze in the second half but the final pass was letting them down time and time again. The penalty count was also starting to rise against the Roesiders, but with Limavady totally dominating in the set piece, Newry never looked like getting close the scoring a try in the second half. Credit to the Limavady pack for this as not only was the scrum rock solid all day, they also stole eight of Newry’s lineouts.
On 74mins a Scott McClean penalty put a bit of daylight between the teams and two minutes later the game was put to bed when prop Clive Scott finished off a fine team move in the corner. And just for good measure, Stewart Roddy capped a fine display by powering over for try number four in the final minute. Scott McClean kicked the conversion and thus ended Newry’s two year home unbeaten run.
Final Score Newry 8 Limavady 27
Plenty to work on before April the 18th, there were equally as many positives to take from the game also. With five players in the backline all under 20 playing superbly, with Luke Faulkner growing with confidence with every game and yet again Jamie Miller at scrum half putting in a display which defies his young years. Stewart Roddy and second row Michael Rice also seem to be returning to form at the right time with both making huge yardage with the ball.
That’s the league wrapped up for another year and a very creditable second place finish. Not too bad for a team that fields most weeks with six teenagers. So just the one game left and that is the Gordon West Cup Final on April 18th at Ravenhill against league winners Larne. Kick off at Ulster Branch headquarters will be at 3pm.
The seconds travelled to Belfast on Saturday for their first game in five weeks. At The Dub they faced a very strong Queens 3rd XV and lost 62-0. They will be hoping for better next week when they travel to County Down to face Dromore 2nds XV. The Saracens are on their travels too as they go to Donegal Town.
The recently reformed under 14 team showed just how far they have progressed when they hosted Finn Valley in the 1st round of the under 14 plate. Just three months ago when the two sides last meet, the Donegal side ran out easy winners by over fifty points, but the young Roesiders put in their best display of the season to record a 50-35 victory. Credit to both teams for putting in a sensational effort in a cracking cup tie.
