In conditions more akin to a summers day as opposed to a Saturday afternoon in October, Limavady kicked off against the PSNI at Newfordge hoping to get their league campaign back on track after last weeks defeat to Larne.
And like in all sports the key to getting a negative result out of the system is to get off to good start. A second minute try from 1st XV winger Ian Miller race clear to score beside the posts for a perfect start. Luke Faulkner converted for a 7-0 lead. This try came about after winning ball at their own lineout and a slick backs move which was missing from their play last week. Try number two wasn’t long in coming, and like the first started with a lineout deep in their opponents half and quick ball out to the backs saw Peter Wilson release Stewart Roddy and the powerful winger touched down under the posts. Luke Faulkner added the extras and after 7mins the visitors were up 14-0.
The visitors ruthless start to the game continued and were dominating up front as the Limavady pack were showing no mercy, and on 17 mins try number three arrived. Again it was Roddy to finish off after Michael Rice picked up at the base of the scrum and his off load sent the winger in for the third try of the day. Again Faulkner kicked the conversion for a 21-0 lead. The homeside eventually were able to get out of their own half and a penalty from their scrum half finally got the scoreboard ticking for them.
The remainder of the half turned out to be a rather scrappy affair and some unpunished over zealous tactics from the homeside meant that Limavady were not able to add to the scoreline.
Half time PSNI 3 Limavady 21
The half time break allowed Limavady to regroup and this appeared to do the trick as they attacked from the restart and try number four duly arrived. This time it was all about the forwards a powerful rolling maul from the lineout march the home pack back 15 metres and tight head prop John McCollum touched down. And from his most difficult kick of the day young out-half Luke Faulkner kicked his fourth conversion of the day. Four minutes later a replica of this try was scored, but it was at the other end as the PSNI got over the line with their No.8 touching down. With the conversion missed Limavady sparked into life and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and on 55mins the Wilson brothers, Peter & Ben combined to release Stewart Roddy yet again the big winger broke through the tackles to touch down for his third try of the day. Again, Faulkner kicked over a super conversion and any ideas that the homeside had of a comeback were put to bed as the visitors now lead 35-8.
The Limavady pack have been in dominant form all season and their hard work on the training ground paid off again on 62mins as from another lineout the forward eight marched over the try line with loose head prop Clive Scott getting the touchdown this time. Young Michael Rice, one of two eighteen year olds in the pack was excelling in his first league start at No. 8 and on 70mins he picked up from the base of a scrum and popped a lovely pass to scrum half Jamie Miller raced clear unopposed to for try number seven, and also conversion number seven from Faulkner.
Bad luck struck the homeside as their most influential player and No 8 was forced the leave the game injury, so they had so see out the remainder of the game with 14 players, and although they added to the scoreboard with a further penalty from their scrum half, it was the visitors who finished the game the stronger with the Wilson brothers adding a try a piece to the Limavady total. Coincidentally they were also identical tries. First it was full back Ben who finished a flowing move in the right hand corner and then right on full time Peter finished a similar move in the other corner after the referee had played a good advantage after a late and very dangerous tackle on Greg Jordan.
Full Time PSNI 11 Limavady 59
A more clinical display from the Roesiders this week which was awarded with nine tries in a fine team display. But Head Coach Paul O’Kane was under no illusions that a lot of areas need to be worked on if any success is to achieved this season, but was delighted to see a mature performance from a side that started with seven teenagers.
Team. B. Wilson, I. Miller, P. Wilson, G. Jordan, S. Roddy, L. Faulkner, J. Miller. C. Scott, I. Campbell, J. McCollum, A. Miller, M. McCollum, P. Semple, D. Irvine, M. Rice.
In Saturdays other game the 2nds XV had an came out on top against Lisburn 2nds in a thriller 38-26.
Next week the 1st XV are on their travels again, but this time it’s in the Gordon West Cup as the go to North Belfast to face Ophir, while the 2nds host Queens 3rds. Both games have 2.30pm kick offs.
