OPHIR MAKE IT 100%

a visit to Belfast High School Former Pupils at the War Memorial Grounds in Greenisland. Having already beaten every team and won the Kukri Qualifying League Section 4, the Mallusk team were aiming for a clean sweep for the first time in the Club’s 92 year history.

Ophir came close to opening the score within 5 minutes of the kick off, after a great scrum against the head, but scrum half Karl Davis’ slipped pass to winger Stevie Hastings narrowly failed to go to hand. It didn’t matter; 4 minutes later a big Ophir drive in the loose put hooker Ryan Jenkins over the line to touch down. Full back David Walker made no mistake with conversion and Ophir led 7 – 0. 10 minutes later out half Alan Davidson broke clear from a slick pass by Karl Davis and sprinted a full 45 metres to score under the posts. Again Walker converted. At last High School got their act together and an attack on the left wing looked dangerous until the winger chipped ahead and lost possession. Then on the half hour, Ophir prop Chris Phillips wrestled his way out of a couple of tackles and almost made it to the try line. But second row Paddy McCabe supported brilliantly and took the final pass to score. Close to half time Ophir opted for a scrum after High School were penalised under their own posts. Wing forward Dave Lucas picked up and crashed over for Ophir’s fourth try. Walker’s conversion made it 28 – 0 to Ophir at the break.

High School started the second half in much better form and pressed hard but the Ophir tackling stayed strong and the defence held firm. 20 minutes in and Ophir had gained ground to the High School line where Dave Lucas again showed his strength and crashed through for the fifth try. Walker’s conversion made it 35 nil. Back came High School and a certain try was only stopped by a silly penalty. This was immediately punished by another Karl Davis breakaway and this time he went all the way from inside his own half to score under the posts. David Walker converted. And then in the final 10 minutes Ophir’s game fell apart. Dave Lucas was yellow carded for talking to the referee and High School scored their first converted try. Then Ophir centre Anthony Davis was sent off for diving into a ruck to stop a try. And to make matters worse, winger Stevie Hastings was yellow carded leaving Ophir with 12 men on the pitch. Inevitably High School scored, but it was too late; the missed conversion attempt was the last kick of the game. Ophir 42 – High School 12.