UUC RFC Power NI 2nd XV Continue Away Form after their win over Ballymena 5’s last week.
Conditions were perfect, cool but dry with a difficult low sun facing the UUC Power Ni 2’s in the first half at the Maynard Sinclair grounds in the surroundings of Stormont.
The first 10 minutes we were painfully slow to get started, a high ball was dropped under a difficult sun with their number 10 scoring from the consquenting lineout unopposed under the posts. 7-0 to the home team.
UUC Power Ni 2’s regrouped with Jamie ball slotting over 3 points from a penalty for offside at the breakdown, though missed tackles were the main problem facing the student side. This led to Civil Service’s second score in the corner scored by their number 14. Then as phases were being put together by the students an as play after play and gradually crept their position into Civil service territory, the Lineouts and scrums were becoming dominant you could see momentum was shifting. A charge for the line by a moving pack in the lineout with Jamie Ball sneaking out the back door to put ball over the line, conversion from the try scorer was successful. Service came straight back and scored a try through the forwards with some tight play. Conversion missed.
Final play of the first half saw UUC camped in the Service 22 a charge down from Outhalf Chris Elliott and in his motion of picking up the loose ball was taken out but Ball was gathered by the ever present Phil Mclean with an easy pick up and dive over the line for a try. Ref deemed the tackle without the ball to be a try scoring opportunity and sent the left wing to the bin for 10 minutes.
Half time score of 17-17
Second half saw a rejuvenated UUC side. Try saving tackles were being made and the lifting moral was gaining speed and confidence, an overlap in the home sides 22 saw debutant Jonny Harding placing the ball on the line under difficult pressure. Jamie Ball converted. Pressure was placed on the opposition backs and mistakes were made, the resulting pressure led to turn over ball and Nigel Irwin popped up on the wing to place the ball down.
10 minutes later a scrum on the 10 meter line inside the home teams half, Jamie Ball intercepted from the oppositions 10 leaving a 2 on 1 with the fullback. Nigel was there again to run in close to the post leaving the score 34-17. Play was scrappy towards the end with UUC’s defence the difference. The ref blew the whistle with the away side glad to be leaving with 2 points after a poor performance leaving them in 2nd place in Junior 6.
Man of the match was hard to pick but Nigel Irwin a veteran of the student side deserves this title.
Report By
Chris Elliott
