Saturday 6th December 2004
Belfast Harlequins RFC 5th XV 17
Rainey Old Boys RFC 3rd XV 22
Deja 'Frickin' Vu!
If ever you have seen a repeat of a previous match then this was it. I thought of not writing a match report at all and just saying 'please see last weeks'.
Selection was not a problem this week and we had a pretty strong side out.For the 'observant' ones amongst us the back row had tremendous experience spanning 508 rugby matches. Five hundred for Chick and 8 between Niall and Hugh.
After last weeks slow start it was requested that the shirts arrived in good time to allow for a reasonable warm up etc as the aging legs of many, including yours truly, do need some work.
With this in mind we arranged for certain team members to turn up at 1.30 to allow for extra instruction, unfortunately the team manager didn't bother. While the Rainey side (second in the league) were training on our pitch from 1.45. I was still running around without a shirt until 2.15. For the manager’s information I have attached two points from an email he sent to me at the start of the season :
4. Ensure there are minimum of three good Gilbert balls for each home match properly inflated and labelled . (See groundsman for pump ). For away games take two balls. (Manager).
6. Ensure Shirts are laundered and serious rips and tears repaired. Arrangements will be made as to where kits are to be left securely in the club after games and you will be advised accordingly. Please take pride in your shirts and their condition. Thefts are simply not acceptable (responsibility -team manager).
Despite this we started in good heart in now brown shirts and with balls that were so soft should you get one in the face it would suffocate you without hurting.
Within fifteen minutes we were 17 points down and looking like a serious rabble. Rainey were playing well and thoughts of big humpings were going through everyone’s minds. So much so that Barry got a stiffy.
A rally of sorts then started and at least our defense started to work and Rainey were held until half time although we made little headway. H-T 0-17
The second half was like a different decade, immediately we went on the attack and a move almost identical to last weeks with big floaters etc resulted in Angus once again going over in the corner. Unfortunately this time the 'over' mentioned as the deadball line. From hero to zero in seven easy days.
Not to be left out however Dowling B was insistent that he would be dick of the day. Following more excellent pressure Captain Chick decided that a penalty in front of the posts from about 15m out was a cert. Up steps Dowling with legs of jelly and proceeded to miss by more than the distance he was away (a feat in itself). Still undaunted we could smell blood and from the resultant 22 some hard graft was rewarded with another penalty. Tap to Marko on the hoof try to the mighty fives. Dowling strangely passed the chance of a conversion to Rob Hillis. 7-17.
With spirits lifted by 10 minutes that could easily have resulted in 17 points we set about tearing Rainey apart. Again the backline was tremendous with Andy Nixon and Barry to the fore in every move. Lineouts started to function with Neil Elliott taking great ball at 4. The dander was up, the tackling unforgiving and another try wasn't long in coming. First phase ball from a lineout Barry feeds a now hungry back line and Ally scores out wide. Rob clearly has sobered up by now and doesn't look like kicking anything ever again. 12-17 with still 10 minutes to go and Rainey had barely been in our 22. This was about to be the greatest comeback since Custer’s Last Stand. Then I remembered, Custer didn't come back, and neither did the fives. Rainey made one raid into our 22 and scored 12-22 what a pisser.
Even then we did not lie down and scored another fantastic try through the mercurial Dowling B and pressured Rainey right to the end. Final Score 17-22.
In all I'm sure it was a fantastic match to watch and every player was willing to risk life and limb in those last few minutes to secure a victory. Dick of the day has several
nominees with the Manager being the first to put his hand up. What he put his hand up was the problem. Barry Dowling, gets a mention in both categories for excellent distribution and running for MOTM, but that kick...
Michael McShane is making great strides at centre and Andy had a stormer at Full back. Ally McC however should get MOTM this week as he was popping up everywhere and made huge yardage.
Dick of the Day..... Angus please.
Team : 1. Mark McCartney, 2. Steve Uprichard, 3. James Graham, 4. Richard
Cooper 5. Neil Elliott 6. Hugh Daly, 7. Niall Bryson, 8. Chick Chalmers (Capt.), 9. Brian Turkington, 10. Barry Dowling, 11. Angus Mills 12. Rob Hillis, 13. Michael McShane, 14. Ally McCullough, 15. Andy Nixon
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