OPHIR WIPE OUT

Ophir, supported by MCW Properties, kicked off but were immediately under pressure from the fast running Holywood backs, the Ophir defence made the fateful error of allowing the opposition time to run, not closing them down and making the tackle so much more difficult. Three minutes into the game and Holywood chalked up their first try of the afternoon, taking possession from a line out on Ophir’s 22 and sweeping the ball across the backs to cross the line with ease. The conversion was good and that was the opening of the floodgates. Ophir were briefly back into Holywood territory, but only by way of the restart, and Holywood immediately charged back upfield. Their tall out half burst through several feeble tackles and fed his right wing to score in the corner. The conversion was missed. Ophir briefly shone when scrum half Alan Davidson took a short penalty on the Holywood 10 metre line but his charging run found little support from his forwards and the move broke down. From the ensuing scrum, Holywood took the ball upfield and after recycling possession 5 times, broke through the middle of the Ophir defence to score under the posts. The Ophir cause was not helped by the fact that the last tackle literally pulled the Holywood scorer over the line. The conversion put them 19 points in the lead. Ophir managed a mini come back and tested the Holywood defence with some very good individual runs, particularly from second row, John Condell and centre Chris Phillips. But as before, these fine efforts went unsupported and led either to penalties for holding on to the ball too long or turnovers.

Unfortunately for Ophir, the second half became a rout. Holywood enjoyed about 80% possession and took full advantage. Scoring almost immediately from the kick off set the pattern for the remainder of the game. That is, apart from the 55th minute when Ophir’s centre, Chris Phillips made a typical charging run, this time closely supported by the pack, and was bundled over the line in the corner for Ophir’s sole try. With the score standing at 52 – 5, and just over 5 minutes of the match remaining, the referee offered Ophir the option of finishing early. To their credit, Ophir refused, kicked off to the waiting Holywood forwards, and could only watch as the opposition scythed through to put the final nail in the proverbial, When the ref blew, it was 59 – 5.