The pitches at the Cottonmount are undergoing extensive drainage work so home games are being played at the Valley and at Mount Pleasant, behind the Ballysillan Road in Belfast.

Despite a strong wind at their backs, Ophir started with some disadvantage, losing Ronan McCann to a suspected hamstring injury even before the kick off. Disregarding the setback, Ophir applied all the early pressure, camping on the CI line before a break by the defence back row took play to half way. A penalty brought Ophir to the CI 22 but mishandling caused a turnover, one of many, and CI took full advantage, their centre scoring under the posts after an elusive run by the scrum half. The try was easily converted. Ophir rallied and gained 3 points from a James Milligan penalty. And they continued to press the visitors back, enjoying a 15 minute spell right on the CI line but dismally failed to make any breakthrough. The loss of Alan O’Neill with a gash to his cheek before half time added to Ophir’s woe.

CI used the wind to great advantage in the second half. Each time they got the ball it was kicked straight down the pitch, avoiding touch. This frequently forced the Ophir defence to scramble the ball out of play and give the opposition possession from the line outs. And CI, particularly on the left wing, demonstrated how to turn territorial advantage into points. They ran in 4 tries in a golden 15 minute spell and the game, as a contest, was over. But Ophir fought back and prop Gerard Crawford battled his way through 3 tackles to score out wide. The missed conversion signalled another CI assault on the Ophir defence and another try scored. Late on, Ophir gained a small consolation from a rather dubious try by Kevin McLoughlin, who appeared to drop the ball in a tackle right on the line. But Ophir gratefully accepted the generosity of the referee and the match ended Ophir 13, CIYMS 42.

This Saturday, Ophir First XV start their 2012/2013 season with a visit to Armoy: the Seconds are hoping for a better performance against Portadown IV at the Valley Leisure Centre.