The Wolfhound Cup which involves Lurgan and Civil Service was set up by Jim Allen.
Big Jim as he is known to his friends played for both sides firstly at Lurgan in the second row as a 17 year old in 1960 before moving on to play senior rugby for Civil Service in the season of 1969-70 for two seasons. He enjoyed success in his first season at Stormont being part of the successful side the won the Stevenson Shield Ulster league.
Unfortunately a knee injury ended Jim’s playing days in March of 1971 during a friendly against King’s Scholars.
Jim returned to Lurgan following his injury and took up a coaching role with the club for two seasons taking the side to promotion in his first year from junior two to junior one. Following his second season work commitments saw the Moira man return to the farm.
At the start of the 1980’s a conversation between Jim and members of Civil Service brought about the discussion of putting up a cup for the two clubs to contest each season.
Then in 1982 the first game of the Wolfhound Cup was played with the name of the cup coming from the Wolfhound on Lurgan’s club badge which many people thought that it was a greyhound but infact it is an Irish Wolfhound.
After last months match the side’s have now met 28 times with Lurgan having gained 17 victories to Civil Services’ 10 with there being only one draw and that came back in the 2008-2009 season when the sides drew 22 – 22 at Stormont. In 2000 the cup was not contested.
Next season will see the side’s contest the cup in its 30th Anniversary at Lurgan.
2010 Game & Report
Lurgan returned to Pollock Park on Saturday evening with two well earned league points and also a piece of silverware after retaining Jim Allen’s Wolfhound Cup. The margin of victory may look comfortable in the end but for the first 50 minutes the match was locked at 3 – 3 and was either side’s for the taking
In perfect rugby-playing weather, Service stepped on to the pitch optimistic with the prospect of regaining the Wolfhound Cup. It has been a number of years since Service last tasted victory in Jim Allens’ Wolfhound Cup which was being contested for the 29th time. Lurgan having previously gained 17 victories to Civil Services’ 10 with there being one draw in 2008.
Lurgan opened the scoring in the first minute through a Stephen Nolan penalty from 25 meters and Nolan had the chance to double his sides lead six minutes later only to push his effort across the posts.
Service totally dominated play for the reminder of the half as Lurgan had to do their fair share of defending and the visitors did soak up plenty of pressure on their own line and held Service out as Peter Hoskins kicked a penalty between the uprights for Service but was unfortunate to narrowly miss two more kicks during a time when Service put Lurgan under great pressure
CLICK HERE for Pictures from the post game presentation & dinner
Seven minutes before the break Lurgan had flanker Jamie Pedlow sin binned for a team offence as they played the rest of the half with 14 men and the opening stages of the second half. Four minutes into first half injury time Lurgan broke out of their own half and received a penalty on the left hand touchline but Stephen Nolan’s effort grazed the left hand upright and the score remained locked at 3 – 3 at the break. The whistle went for half time with the sides locked at 3-3 but with Service having looking the better team.
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Following the half time wake up call the visitors came to life in the second half and they set up camp in the Service half. On 50 minutes Lurgan disrupted a Service scrum and when the ball squirted out the home side’s half backs were put under pressure and second row Aaron Robinson pounced in the right hand corner to give his side the lead. Stpehen Nolan landed the touchline conversion and the same player also added penalties on 62 and 65 minutes to extend Lurgan’s lead to 16 – 3
With a full 15 back on the field Lurgan scored a breakthrough try 10 minutes into the second half. Service had lost control of the ball in the scrum allowing the Lurgan 2nd Row to win possession and touch down in the corner. Lurgan capitalised with the conversion. Two more penalties against the Service team gave Lurgan a 16 – 3 lead.
With 10 minutes left to play, Service scored after some great breakthrough play. Number 8, Phil Patterson, supplied the final pass to Andrew Sloan who crashed over from 5 yards, bringing Service back into the game. A successful conversion by Peter Hoskins made it 16-10.
As the game near the final whistle, there was great excitement from the sidelines. Service supporters tried to rally behind the team and encourage the victory they knew Service were capable of and which the first half display warranted.
. But four minutes later the league points were all but secured for Logan with the play of the match. From just inside the Lurgan half the visitors moved the ball across the pitch through a number of phases before taking play into the Service 22. From there the ball was spun from right to left through the hands and left wing Johnny Kingham received the ball 10 meters out and showed his strength to barge his way over the line to score in the corner with Nolan banging over an excellent touchline conversion for a 13 points lead. The visitor’s third try of the afternoon came on 73 minutes from the impressive Grant Martin who was making his return to the 1st XV in the unusual position of first centre. From a scrum just outside the Service 22 the ball was moved to the right to Nolan who put Johnny Kingham though but he was well tackled. Quick recycling saw the ball from scrum half Chris Jenks to Nolan who made the half break and fed Grant Martin on his inside and the centre cantered in under the posts to leave Nolan with the simple conversion and complete the scoring.
Following the match the Wolfhound Cup was presented to Lurgan Captain Graham Currie by Civil Service President Shaun McMorran. This was Lurgan’s 18 success in the 29th year of the cup being played between the two sides with Civil Service gaining 10 wins and only one draw between the side’s which was back in 2008. Lurgan would like to thank their friends at Civil Service for the post match hospitality and meal and look forward to the return fixture in the New Year. Lurgan have a free week this Saturday and return to Kukri Qualifying three action on December 4 with a trip to Newforge to take on PSNI. Lurgan team: R Clarke, C Wamsley, D Swift, G Martin, J Kingham; S Nolan, C Jenks; G Currie (Capt), G Wickie, A Mackey, A Robinson, C Mallon, D Reid, J Pedlow, K McBride.
For Civil Service, Bryns’ man of the match was Ben Scott for a fantastic all round performance but he was closely run by Andrew “Boney” Sloan who stepped in to cover in the front row, he showed aggression and held his side well in set pieces and converted a well worked team try.
compiled by intouch rugby from notes submitted by Paddy Allen, Lurgan RFC & Brinley Strugeon Civil Service RFC.
History Of The Cup:
History of Wolfhound Cup
Cup presented by Jim Allen who played for both Lurgan and Civil Service
1982 – Lurgan
1983 – Lurgan
1984 – Civil Service
1985 – Civil Service
1986 – Civil Service
1987 – Civil Service
1988 – Lurgan
1989 – Lurgan
1990 – Lurgan
1991 – Lurgan
1992 – Civil Service
1993 – Lurgan
1994 – Civil Service
1995 – Civil Service
1996 – Civil Service
1997 – Lurgan
1998 – Civil Service
1999 – Civil Service
2001 – Not Played
2002 – Lurgan
2003 – Lurgan
2004 – Lurgan
2005 – Lurgan
2006 – Lurgan
2007 – Lurgan
2008 – Shared
2009 – Lurgan
2010 – Lurgan
In 29 years of the cup being played Lurgan have gained 17 wins to Civil Service’s 10 with the cup being shared in 2008 and not played in 2000.
