Randalstown RFC I XV scored a ratio of a 1 point per 46.4 Seconds after 80 that was 88 Points v Holywood RFC
HOLLYWOOD – Nil RANDALSTOWN – 88
Randalstown travelled to Kerr Park on Saturday to play Hollywood in Qualifying league 2. The team selected showed a number of changes to the backline from the previous match against Grosvenor due to injury and unavailability. As a consequence Daniel McGlade moved into outhalf, with his place on the wing being taken by Ryan McGarry. Chris McGoldrick and Matty McWhinney moved up from the seconds to cover scrum half and centre respectively. Given that Hollywood had beaten Lisburn in the league the previous week, the town coaches had expected a tough encounter.
The game kicked off in near perfect playing conditions with Randalstown choosing to run the ball at every opportunity. The first try came within minutes of the kick off with the town pack providing good front foot ball for the backs, which saw the ball moved wide to McGarry who rounded his man to touch down in the corner. The conversion was missed by the normally reliable McGlade. From the restart a similar pattern developed with the town pack dominating proceedings and allowing the backs a steady supply of good ball which saw the team score 42 unanswered points in the first half and secure the bonus point by half time. In the 2nd half the pack continued to dominate both in the tight and in the loose resulting in a further 46 unanswered points being scored. A total of 14 tries were scored with both the dynamic Chris Allen & Ryan McGarry scoring hat tricks. All round, It was an excellent team performance with those players who stepped up from the 2nds making good individual contributions to what was a very entertaining match. . The win now moves Randalstown up to 4th place in the league ahead of Coleraine and just behind Academy whom the town meet in their next league encounter on 21 February 2015 at Neilsbrook.
A special mention goes to Gary Irwin (a former Randalstown youth player) who returned to play for the town this season (after completing his studies at university in England). Gary scored his 1st ever try for the club on Saturday against Hollywood and just for good measure scored a 2nd try 5 minutes later.
D’Dee RFC v Randalstown
Randalstown 2nd XV made the journey to D’Dee without their talisman coach Greg Sloane who had travelled to Rome to be at the Italy v Ireland game.
The Randalstown really need to win this game to keep the home side from challenging for the league title. The game was only a few minutes old when a defensive lapse allowed the home winger to score below the posts to give Dee a 7-0 lead. The early pressure game from a strong Dee side however as the game progressed the Randalston side began to mount a number of attacks. A Dee forward was penalised for offside and Murray slotted over a well taken penalty from 35 metres to bring Randalstown into the game. Ever time the visitors backs got the ball they looked dangerous and Chris Donnely was able to take on the defense and score a well taken try under the posts with Murray adding the conversion.half time came with Randalstown holding a slender 3 point lead.
Captain Hyndman lead his side in a great second half effort and only some great defensive work by young Jamie Orr and Veron Thom stopped the Dee from going ahead. A veron Thom score was disallowed for a dubious forward pass and with 15 minutes left a great Murray penalty gave Randalstown a six point lead which they defended with their lives and when the final whistle sounded the whole team celebrated a win that takes them to within one point of wiining the league. It would be difficult to single out individuals in the team but the man of the match award must be shared by the two veterans of the team Sammy Hyndman and Vernon Thom
Randalstown Rfc 3rd XV 0-33 Belfast Harlequins
RRFC 3rds travelled to deramore park with much hope having beaten Quins at home earlier in the season. However they came up against a much changed team and soon found themselves under early pressure. The home team found holes in the Randalstown defence all too easily and soon started racking up the points. At half time the scoreline was looking ominous but the red and whites upped their game and put in a much improved defensive performance as well as being more threatening with the ball in hand. Bryan Gourley made a great break from his own goal line taking the ball all the way to the opposition 22′ before being hauled down and Ben Joyce made some good runs from the back before having to retire injured. Next week the 3rds take on Ballymoney at home where they will hope to return to winning ways.
