It was cloudy but clear conditions for Civil 2's match against Grosvenor 3's at Stormont Park. Civil Service were looking to bounce back from defeat last week to Ards.

The game got underway with both teams starting brightly and showing their intentions early on. With both teams trying to play the territory game early on to get field position. It was the visitors Grosvenor who were putting Civil under pressure though. As they pinned Civil in their own 22 with Civil showing strong defence to hold them short of the line. Grosvenor 3's pressure eventually became too much for Civil as the Grosvenor fly-half (10) spotted a gap, dummied, and threw a brilliant offload to the back-rower (8) who had enough power to crash over for the first score. Conversion was made and it was 0-7 to the visitors.
Civil respond well from the restart and earn a scrum from some good pressure. Grosvenor do well to stop their momentum after some good carrying from the Civil pack. Then from turnover, Grosvenor nearly score from a grubber through ball, but Civil do well to recover and deny them. Grosvenor hit back again from the 22 drop out and put massive pressure on the Civil defence in their 22. They finally make their pressure tell and some good hands out wide releases the winger (14) in the corner. 0-14. Civil respond well and pin Grosvenor nicely in their 22 with a grubber kick through. Grosvenor exit well though and force Civil back and to defence again. Civil do well to hold the visitors up over the line and earn a goal-line drop out. But the Grosvenor pressure wouldn't stop and they eventually break through for another try. Grosvenor earn a penalty in the Civil 22 and tap and go quickly from close range for the centre (12) to dive over for a third try. 0-21.
The final 10 minutes of the half were dominated my Civil. they held onto possession well and pinned Grosvenor back inside their own 22. The Civil pressure finally earned them a score. A penalty was quickly taken by the Civil second row who crashed over in the corner for their first try of the game just before half-time.

HALF-TIME CIVIL SERVICE 2's 7-21 GROSVENOR 3's

Civil began the 2nd half much more positive than the first with some good early play and carries up to the Grosvenor 22 but the visitors defence held firm. And it was indeed Grosvenor who got the first try of the 2nd half. The forward back carry well in the Civil 22 and eventually the flanker (6) dives over for their 4th try of the game. 7-28. Grosvenor began to dominate the game even more, a brilliant break by the centre (20) who cut inside the Civil defence and offloaded out wide to the winger (11) who shows great pace to get round the defence and throw an inside pass to the second row (5) who runs in under the posts for a great try. Conversion made. 7-35.
After a tough period of Grosvenor play Civil respond well with some good attacking play of their own as the fly-half (10) breaks through the visitors defence and up to the 22 metre line. But strong Grosvenor defence earn the penalty and stop the Civil charge. Some fierce Grosvenor carrying causes the Civil defence problems as they struggle to stop them. And it's good hands out wide by the visitors to create a 2 on 1 and release the centre out wide and in the corner for a well worked try. Conversion is good and it's 7-42.
From the restart the Grosvenor second row (19) gets tackled beyond the horizontal and lands dangerously. Luckily it's just a penalty and nothing more to the relief of the Civil players. From that penalty Grosvenor make their way up the field and earn a line-out 5 metres out. Civil do well to stop it initially but the pressure comes on from the Grosvenor forwards and a couple of strong carries allows the prop (3) to dive over for the score. Conversion is missed this time and its 7-42.
Grosvenor weren't finished yet though and they produce arguably the try of the game with the last play of the game. Great offloading out wide from the visitors creates space and the winger chips it over the covering Civil defenders and the centre (20) collects the perfect bounce and strolls in under the posts for a brilliant score. Conversion is simple enough and that's the end of the game.

FULL-TIME CIVIL SERVICE 2's 7-54 GROSVENOR 3's

A tough result for Civil Service to take as they tried everything to get a foothold into the game, but it was the visitors who were just the better team on the day with some powerful and clinical play.