2’S Narrow Loss

Omagh 2XV travelled to Randalstown on Saturday in the Junior Plate – a new competition for this season where a round robin format occurs in the groups then there are semi finals and the final. Paired with Omagh in their group were Donaghadee and Saturday’s opponents Rreandalstown and Omagh got off to the perfect start as Andy Catterson sailed in for the game’s first score.

 

Omagh built on their great start as two further tries were registered with conversions from Will Stewart to send them into a 0-19 lead with 15 minutes gone. Unfortunately for Omagh they couldn’t keep their foot on Randalstown’s throat and let them back into the game as they registered their first points of the day through a converted score.

 

Randalstown brought themselves right back into the game with the game’s next try and when Alex Colhoun was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on Omagh were struggling to hold the hosts at bay. Randalstown got into the lead soon after with another try but Omagh composed themselves to close the floodgates and head into the break trailing narrowly by 21 points to 19.

 

Positive feedback from coaches Kane and Warnock and the senior player encouraged Omagh to play their game in the second half but indiscipline crept in as the hosts slotted a penalty to increased their lead to 24-19.

 

Knowing the next score was crucial, Omagh went on the hunt through the forwards and got their rewards as prop Glenn McKinley dotted down to level the scores. Stewart was unsuccessful with the conversion but Omagh were now firmly back in the game.

 

Randalstown’s young full back converted a brilliant penalty from the halfway line to send them into the lead once again at 27-24 but Omagh had plenty of time and went about trying to regain the lead through the forwards once again.

 

Numerous surges were repelled by Randalstown but when Catterson sent a great kick to the corner Omagh set up the maul and a certain score looked on the cards. Momentum was with the visitors and when John ‘Puffin’ Blair peeled off the back of the maul the result seemed to be sealed in Omagh’s favour as he stretched out to score the all important try. Surprisingly for all Accies in attendance the referee ruled the try had been held up and the game petered out much to the delight of Randalstown and their home support.

 

A great cup match, played in good spirit was witnessed by all in attendance on Saturday but Omagh will rue the chances they missed to put themselves in a strong position in their group. Now results will have to go their way elsewhere and they will have to win against Donaghadee at home on 25th March.

Omagh Accies 2XV (1-17)

J. Blair, E. McKeown (c), G. McKinley, C. Hawkes, Jo. Sproule, J. Brolly, S. Wilson, J. Rainey, A. Colhoun, W. Stewart, D. Cummings, A. Catterson, J. Hawkes, A. Crawford, J. Beattie, G. Sherrard & A. Clements.