Many thanks to the supporters who came along and especially Stewart Ferguson for the following match report:

The conditions were as perfect as they could be for the match between Civil Service 2nd XV and Holywood 3rd XV on Saturday 28th September with clear skies and firm ground. Unfortunately, Service were the immediate underdog with only fourteen players. However, what they lacked in numerical advantage they more than made up for in terms of experience for they had the Service stalwart of Michael ‘Borneo’ Curran at No.8, Bryn Sturgeon stepping in to prop and Kenny Dane at fullback.

The game commenced and Holywood used their numbers well to pressurise the Service defence early on but John Byrne at No.10, who could land a ball on a sixpence, used his kicking beautifully to clear the lines. This earned Holywood an early lineout which wasn’t straight and gifted Service a scrum in which the boys in white showed their suprising superiority at the head despite their relative inexperience- this would figure throughout the game.

Four and a half minutes into the game, and as a result of Holywood’s forwards putting on the pressure and then using the extra man in their back line, they exploited the weakness in Service’s defence and scored a try which was not converted.

Shortly after the restart it was the turn of Service to turn on the pressure allowing the backs to put the ball through the hands. This pressure caused Holywood to lose some composure and forfeit a penalty which Service’s John Byrne dutifully slotted between the sticks at the 8 minute mark.

Invigorated by Service’s penalty, Holywood regained their composure and applied pressure to Service’s already under-stress back line to score and convert their try at 11minutes. More pressure from the Holywood men came but was held off by the Service lads who were spurred on by their home crowd.

During the next 8 minutes, Service then felt the full force of Holywood’s forward pack and well organised back line which ran like a well-oiled machine for the majority of the game and, in spite of spirited defence and some exceptional tackling from Service veteran Brinley Sturgeon, paid the price when Holywood scored and converted at 19 and a half minutes.

Holywood continued to profit from their extra man which resulted in some individual running and even better supportive play. Late in the first half however, Service received a penalty and once again, John Byrne stepped up and did the honours. The delight was short-lived however as Holywood went on to dominate the remainder of the first half and score two tries in quick succession, of which one was converted.

It was Holywood who restarted the second half and Service, not only aware of their first half mistakes but also reinforced by a fifteenth man in the form of Phil Patterson, came out not only better structured, but with fire in their bellies to improve upon their first half.

This desire early on from Service was not rewarded sadly as Holywood, who were by now buoyed on from their successes in the first half dominated the next 15 minutes with a total of 4 tries and three conversions despite some pressure from the home side.

Service showed some good phases of play which put the away side under considerable amounts of pressure and were rewarded with a scrum. Sadly, Service couldn’t capitalise on their visible advantage at the head and after some more phases of open play Holywood won a penalty and followed up with more open running. This was rewarded with a try at 21 minutes.

The next periods of play showed potential for the home team as they plied on the pressure to attack and reach the Holywood try line. However, Holywood’s defensive skills came into play and both times that Service crossed the whitewash, the ball was held up.

In the dying minutes of the game, Service’s own Beach Boy showed some great running and there was great supportive play from his back line with handling skills any professional would be proud of. The Service fitness at the end was a marked improvement from previous weeks but they were unable to breach the away teams strong defence.

A final score of 62-6 to Holywood was deserved as they carried out the basics of rugby beautifully: ball carrying and supportive play. Even so, the score line flattered them as the home team were denied a late consolation try

Civil Service (NI) RFC

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