Ophir victory marred by injury to Marshall
Last Saturday, Ophir 1st XV met Strabane at the Cottonmount, Mallusk in Section 3 of the Kukri Qualifying League.
In a constant downpour of rain, ball handling was extremely difficult but somehow both teams managed to produce some great running rugby.
The first 15 minutes of the game was concentrated in the middle of the pitch with neither side gaining any advantage. Other than a tremendous break and 50 metre sprint from Ophir flanker Ciaran McWilliams, there was little in it. Then out half Ron Bell slotted home his second penalty attempt to put the home team 3 points ahead. Strabane fought back but unfortunately missed a penalty kick.
Then it was Ophir's turn to launch a sustained attack and were rewarded with an excellent try from full back Duncan Elder.
Then came disaster for the home team. Winger Alan Marshall, on one of his typical storming runs, was well tackled but ended up at the bottom of a ruck of forwards, where he sustained serious injury to his knee. Hospital treatment was required and the match had to be moved to the adjacent pitch whilst awaiting an ambulance.
With a man down, Strabane began to gain more possession and territory, and scored 3 points with a penalty, but Ophir then managed to hang on until half time.
Coach, Stewart Hooks certainly inspired the Ophir 14 at the break. They came out storming and Ron Bell crashed over the Strabane line within 5 minutes of the restart. He converted his own score and 5 minutes later Karl Davis chipped ahead and brilliantly won the race to the touchdown. Ron Bell narrowly missed the conversion but Ophir were now 20 points to 3 in the lead.
Five minutes later, that man Elder was again linking superbly with his back line and scored his second try of the match near the corner flag. The conversion attempt was missed, but the Ophir pack, particularly the second row combination of Neil Gray and Gareth Anderson, were working hard against the odds and managed some great turnover ball to keep the home team in command.
But the sterling effort with a man down had to have its consequences; as Ophir tired, Strabane gained better possession and were rewarded with an excellent unconverted try. And then when it seemed the tables might turn against Ophir, up popped Ron Bell with a magnificent dropped goal from all of 30 metres to seal the match. The final score Ophir 28, Strabane 8.
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Weather for Newtownabbey
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
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