RANDALSTOWN travelled to Coleraine University on Saturday for a Gordon West cup game and were on the wrong end of the result despite a much improved performance against a team who will once again be among the favourites in both league and cup this season.
Coleraine made the most of the early running and opened the scoring with 2 early tries, one of which was converted to take a 12-0 lead. Their strong athletic pack and in particular the back row laid the foundations as they put the ‘Town side to the s
word.
Gradually however the ‘town boys found their feet and came back strongly in the last 10 minutes of the half, taking advantage when UUC lost their no 8 for 10 minutes in the bin due to persistent killing of theball.
Firstly the experienced Eddie Hampton, in at number 8 for the injured Foster, touched down as Randalstown pushed the UUC pack over the line from a 5 metre scrum.
This was quickly followed by a further turnover in the scrum resulting in a Randalstown penalty. The penalty was taken quickly by Dan Wilson who went on one of his typical jinking runs and made good ground before off-loading to David Millar who crashed over for the 2nd try leaving the score at half time 12-10 to the home team.
Turning round only two points behind, Randalstown were able to sustain their form but UUC now back to their full complement were always in control without totally dominating.
Showing the benefits of training together 3 times a week their backs were slick and innovative and coupled with the power of the pack they ran in a further 3 tries, 2 of which were converted. A further 2 penalties stretched the lead to 37-10.
In the closing stages Randalstown showed considerable spirit pushing the UUC pack over the line from about 15 metres out allowing Hampton to touch down again. Veteran out-half Ryan McAuley added the conversion this time leaving the final score 37-17.
Randalstown entertain Ophir at home next Saturday in the Gordon West Cup and will hope to build on the positives from this game.
The management are hoping that some of the injury problems will begin to ease and in particular hope that captain Dan Wilson will be fit to take his place on Saturday.
Randalstown: Thom, Winter, I Foster, Montgomery, Gamble, McAuley, Park, Loughlin, Finlay, Keating, D Millar, M Asquith, Hyndman, Wilson (Capt) Hampton.
SECONDS
Armoy II 21, Randalstown II 7: Randalstown Seconds locked horns with old rivals Armoy on Saturday but unfortunately they couldn’t reproduce the form of their opening performance of the season and returned home defeated.
Forced into making a number of changes in the starting line up due to injury and unavailability Randalstown started brightly but were unable to string the phases together.
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