Belfast Harlequins Website

One of the last times we met Randalstown 2nd XV was our final game at dear old Ormeau. On that balmy April day we also posted our highest ever score, beating R/Town 83-5.

However it was a different proposition this time around on a dreary, cold November Saturday. Furthermore the team was greatly altered from that of two seasons ago. This years injury woes have been well documented so we won’t go over them again, but needless to say “necessity is the mother of all invention”, and with this we called upon the previously uninitiated threesome of Hugh Daly, Paddy Moley and Michael McShane.

With a combined experience of one match we were depending upon our GAA brothers’ superior speed and fitness to see us through. Had Randalstown been more aware, they would have noticed the seminar-esque instruction programme initiated by Roger prior to kick-off. However with positional and legal basics relayed it was time to get on with the game.

The Mighty 5’s started strongly playing with the strengthening breeze but against the slope. It became clear early on, that Coopy would dominate the line-out and hence we were able to build a strong platform throughout the game. This in essence played to O’Gilpin’s strengths, who continually put the forwards into the Randalstown 22.

This paid dividends almost immediately with a good take and drive followed by a quick M2 pass to Ally who found Paddy perfectly, allowing the débutante to score with his first touch. The tries continued with a great score from Hugh Daly followed by perhaps the best back-row-three quarters link play seen all year. Chick broke the line, passing out of the tackle to Mark Harris who set the ball up for a quick double miss-pass from Barry to Paddy who went in for his second of the day. Roger was converting everything in sight and thus all was rosy in the Utopia that is a winning 5’s team.

With the Randalstown kicker illustrating an ineptitude only exhibited by under 8 mini rugby players, it was only time before we were lulled into a false sense of security, letting in two very soft tries, one of which was questionable to say the least. A case of poor positioning or obstruction? We couldn’t tell.

Half Time Score- R/Town 10 - Quins 20

Everybody had their say at Half time, but it was left, as ever, to Pete Stewart to sum up what was needed- “a big 10 minutes”.

This unfortunately didn’t happen with both teams opting to ferociously kick possession away. With 20 minutes to go, the only addition to the score was a penalty by Roger.

What was to follow over the next 10 minutes was perhaps one of the most amusing periods of rugby many of the players and assembled spectators had witnessed. Following another series of aimless kicks by both sides, Ally McCullough, playing full-back, put up a huge garryowen and proceeded to chase the kick up the pitch towards both packs. As Ally closed in on the perfectly positioned up-and-under a figure loomed into view, gaining speed with every bound. From nowhere Hugh Daly, our outstanding try-scoring second row import, claimed the garryowen as if playing in Armagh’s full forward line. Very impressive until the referee blew up for a penalty. Our cover was blown and Randalstown knew it.

This however was only the beginning, with another strong claim for DOTD being offered by Ally. The rules of our game state that to claim a mark the player in question must at least catch the ball. Ally was unfortunately about 2 meters away from where the old pig-skin landed, enabling Randalstown to score under the posts- nice. At 23-15 Randalstown were back in it.

It was then that the 5’s showed their true mettle with a controlled, determined execution of the game with a clinical rolling maul resulting in the winning score from Stevie Upritchard.

There were many strong contenders for both man-of-the-match and DOTD awards this week. Mention must be made of the excellent performance from Mark Harris in the back-row, however the award went to the two-try débutante Paddy Moley who also showed great commitment to the tackle in the second half.

With regard to DOTD, Hugh’s catch in the middle of the park and Spam yawning with boredom before a second half scrum were both fantastic plays for the big prize, but with a unanimous vote, Ally McCullough was awarded the DOTD gong.

Bring on Lisburn!

Team: 1 Mark McCartney ; 2 Steve Uprichard; 3 Spam McGrath; 4 Pete Stewart; 5 Hugh Daly; 6 Richard Cooper; 7 Mark Harris; 8 Chick Chalmers; 9 Chris Magowan; 10 Roger O'Gilpin; 11 Paddy Moley; 12 Barry Dowling; 13 Michael McShane; 14 Christie Lyndsey; 15 Ally McCullough

Man of the match: Paddy Moley

Dick of the Day: Ally McCulloch