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STRABANE 22 - BELFAST YM 0 | Sat 24th Sep 2005 | | The critically acclaimed "news by 10" slot has now become defunked seeing that i have been dropped to 15 by our expert backs coaching captains who both play in the front row! So this is just a match report with no trendy catchphrase title and little humour as the team actually played really well and no-one (almost no-one) made a hash of themselves.
Expectation of a win amongst the home faithful was very high as Roll over Bob had been dropped and Maxy has been off the kebabs and vodka diet for 3 days straight now!
The team for the eagerly awaited first match of the season against Belfast YM at a wind swept Lifford rd, in front of a small but vocal home support lined out as follows.
1 Mal. 2 Davy Fit in anywhere Finlay. 3. Mickey the muncher McSparron 4. Brad. 5 Big Nige. 6 Romancer of the elderly Eddie. 7 Not very fit but getting there Chris. 8. Even less fit but thick enough to get by Mitchie. 9. Maxy. 10. Brian. 11. Rossie. 12. Mowbray burger. 13. Gilsey. 14. Housty. 15 Me.
Those arguing for the pack being the superior of the 2 units in our first team have some additional ammunication after this match as the home 8 were impressive in every sector and on top in most exchanges. The tight 5 provided excellent platform whilst the back row put in a very impressive performance frustrating the visitors at every turn.
A typical slow start was quashed by some quality tackling particularly by Eddie and Gilsey who laughed when told he was up against their best player telling us he is well rested now every week since he stopped being a student and began employment. I note that he must be very busy in the high pressure world of software support as he is never off this website!
After Maxy had kicked the ball ninety mtrs out on the full 1/2 dozen times we started to settle and gain some terrority. Some clever disguised "knock ons" by Ross (which he learned from our coach who trys this move alot) made the first opening for the ever alert Chris who after receiving oxygen got there in support and dived over in the corner.
At this point Housty ran faster than i have ever seen him to get to the ball b4 the not too impressed Maxy to add the 2 points.
The sight of Maxy holding his kicking tee and looking quite cross (this expression also could have been trapped wind) inspired John to knock over a good penalty to make the scores 10-0.
Some good inter play between backs and more backs resulted in a series of scrums on the line which Mitchie thought would be an interesting idea to get caught 6inches short of the line several times. At this point the skipper showed true leadership qualities and dozed a small and slightly frightened visiting winger for our 2nd score. I was so busy trying to wheel an exhausted Mitchie back to the 1/2 way line that i have no idea if Housty beat Maxy to the conversion or not or even if he scored!
The 2nd half against a strong wind was always going to be a defensive mission and we did this very well, holding a decent visiting side scoreless. We also managed to score the try of the match from inside our own half with the ball going through several pairs of hands before the slightly pudgy centre showed pace that no-one knew he had to outstrip their covering prop for a fine score. Both Chris and i had to put personal disappointment aside after following the burger eater for 80mtrs and not receiving the scoring pass, as we secretly hoped the prop would catch the non too lean coach!
A few hundred tackles most of which were made by the backrow later and the first 2 points of the year were secured.
There was however one final drama as Housty was sin-binned for carrying the wrong colour handbag and despite his protests the ref was insistent that Pink was just not John's colour and he asked him to go away and think about his accessorising for 10minutes.
Maxy's prayers for a penalty went unanswered and Housty returned unmissed with Ross laughing saying he could easily do both jobs.
Some very fine individual performances but overall a solid team effort with the defense starting were we left off last year and also some good offensive moves with lots of off loads in the tackles and good ball carrying particularly by Mitchie, Mal and Gilsey.
Ym really had no answer to the home dominance and they seemed particularly confused by our 1/2 time tactics were the skipper and coach had us strategically standing up and sitting down again. These guys are right at the fore of rugby innovation!
Good to see Mitchie, Brian and Maxy back and the competition for places continues to grow with Mickey doing well on his debut, although he did loose the ball in contact after me boosting to Mal how good he was with ball in hand
bring on Randalstown |
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