HOLYWOOD NARROWLY LOSE TO LURGAN
Saturday at Pollock Park, Lurgan saw a beautiful sunny afternoon – great weather for spectating, but perhaps not for playing 15 a side rugby!
The first 10 minutes of the game saw the two teams sounding each other out with Holywood playing the more incisive rugby. The first real opportunity was a Holywood put in to scrum on the Lurgan 5 yard line, but there was an infringement and Lurgan cleared their lines. Holywood then put the pressure on again with a series of scrums. From one, the ball was passed out to Paul Foster on the wing, but he just failed to hold the final pass – a real let off for Lurgan.
The next period of play was fairly inconclusive with plenty of knock-ons from both sides before the first points were scored. Lurgan mounted an attack through their three quarters, there was a missed Holywood tackle, and the Lurgan winger cantered into the corner to touch down. The subsequent conversion was well kicked – Lurgan 7 – Holywood 0.
For the next 10 minutes Holywood applied the pressure, before bad luck struck once again. Ollie Grysmek had to leave the field with blood pouring from a head wound and despite the efforts of the physios, he had to be taken off to hospital to have it stapled. For the second game running, due to the no substitutes rule, Holywood had to play a larger part of the match with 14 men. Despite this, on the stroke of half-time, Holywood scored. Lurgan attacked, passing the ball along the line, but Holywood winger Niel Ferguson intercepted and ran the length of the field to touch down. Half-time score – Lurgan 7 - Holywood 5.
The second half started much as the first with Holywood pressure which eventually led to a penalty. Stevie Leyland converted and it was Lurgan 7 - Holywood 8. But this lead was to be short-lived because minutes later Lurgan kicked a penalty into touch inside the Holywood 22. They then took their own line-out, spun the ball out into the backs, the Lurgan man chipped over and scorched through to win the chase for the ball and touch down. The conversion was kicked and it was Lurgan 14 - Holywood 8. For the next 15 minutes it was mainly Lurgan pressure, but a series of scrums and mauls led to nothing and Holywood cleared into the Lurgan half. A great effort by the seven man Holywood pack saw them drive Lurgan off their own scrum and for the final seven minutes Holywood attacked the Lurgan line to get the score and a possible win. But it was not to be and it finished Lurgan 14 - Holywood 8.
A much better effort from Holywood this week, and it was Lurgan who looked relieved at the final whistle. But once again, the curse of losing a man early on hit Holywood and they definitely suffered as a result. Next week, if they play again like this, and manage to keep 15 players on the pitch for a whole game, there is no reason at all why they should not win a victory.
