Ophir 2nds vs Belfast High former pupils 2nds

Last Saturday both Ophir teams. supported among others by Biffa and Redhead, suffered a 40 point plus hammering from Belfast High School Former Pupils - the firsts at Upper Road, Greenisland and the Seconds at the Cottonmount, Mallusk.

Meanwhile at the Cottonmount, Ophir Seconds were up against it right from the kick off.  It took only 3 minutes for the High School back line to impose their superiority - the out half breaking a tackle and scoring under the posts.  The conversion was good and for the remainder of the half Ophir suffered a battering from the fast and strong opposition backs.  It was fair to say that Ophir competed well in the pack but possession was lost all to often for the home side to mount any serious attack on the High School defence.  The visitors ran in another converted try before Ophir got a chance of scoring with a penalty for offside.  But the ball drifted wide of the posts, and more misfortune came Ophir's way when High School scored another converted try and veteran hooker, Sam Wylie, was yellow carded for a high tackle.  Another converted try put High School 28 points ahead at half time.

The second half mirrored the first with High School running rampant through the Ophir defence.  Two more converted tries were scored and it could have been half a dozen had it not been for the teeming rain and a succession of dropped passes and knocks on.  Despite having two substitutes Ophir's injury toll was mounting; when they were down to 12 players and High School had scored their third try in the 18th minute, the referee sensibly decided to cut the match short to avoid any more damage.  The final score was Ophir,0  High School, 47.