New Year - 2 Pts

Tuesday, 19 January 2010 22:23

Academy 25 – 10 UUC

Academy started the game playing into the breeze, on a cold but dry day, in front of the typical Roughfort support.  UUC had a youthful team that appeared to be up for the challenge against the league leaders, and hopefully had left their bad habits up around Ballymoney on the way down.   In fact they were first to make a mark, when 5 minutes into the game they pressed down the right hand side of the pitch and cut through the Academy defence to touch down.  0 – 5.

This seemed to wake the Academy side up.  After a well taken lineout and solid running by Andy “Rab C” Egglinton, Academy forced a UUC error and took 3 points from the resulting penalty.  3 - 5 (Chris Cooper, 15mins)

The next five minutes were marked by a lot of kicking from both teams.  Norman Carson kicked long ‘un down the field, UUC took the ball into contact, Academy turned it over, quick ruck ball, Ian Knox spins the ball wide to “Zippy” who cuts inside and is too quick for the UUC back line to catch.  Conversion taken: 10 – 5, 20mins.

UUC re-started.  Academy fielded well through Gareth Lynn, but slipped into more aerial ping pong with UUC for the next 10 minutes.  Simultaneously, the turnover count increases for both sides, including at the scrum.  UUC have turned up for a game and continue to make it difficult for Academy to get into their stride.  On 32 mins, UUC won a lineout in the Academy “22”, broke left down the blind side and rumble over: 10 - 10.

Academy see out the first half with a couple of powerful breaks, notably from James “Bull” McKay and Andy “Hubby” Kirkpatrick, but unfortunately a series of knock-ons and turnovers, both at the scrum and in the loose sees Academy back in their own 22 more often that they would like.

HALF-TIME 10-10.  Coach McKee delivers some statistics to the team at half time, highlighting the number of turnovers as the main area for improvement.  No jelly babies today girls….Growler is jetting them in from Abu Dhabi next week!!!!.

UUC start the second half as they finished the first – solid looking and disruptive.  But Academy seem to have taken heed of their half time team talk and cut the errors out.  Five minutes into the half, the Academy pack win a solid scrum and break blind, feeding Jonny “Wheels” Edens, who uses his pace to make good ground.  The pressure leads to an Academy penalty, slotted over by Chris “Boot” Cooper.  13 - 10, 45 mins.

More good work from Ian Knox and Andy Kirkpatrick keeps the Academy backline moving, and UUC tackling. Another break from “Wheels” Edens leads to indiscipline from UUC, and another chance for Chris “The Boot” to take 3 points.  16 - 10, 49mins. 

Scrum to Academy on half way line gives Andy Kirkpatrick the chance send a well positioned kick down the field.  Academy’s lineout has been working well all day, both offensively and defensively.  The pressure from the pack leads to another Academy penalty.  19 - 10, 53mins. The “Boot-meister” is on fire! 

Academy spend the next ten minutes soaking up some UUC pressure, and rack up their tackle count, most notable “Wheels” Edens’ crunching tackle on his opposite number – “read yer Ulster…”, or words to that effect..  Mal, having a relatively quiet day, is stunned when UUC let their man return to the action “TKO ref….!”.  More kicking ensues, to screams of ‘keep the ball in hand’ from the sidelines.  Another penalty to Academy keeps the score board ticking (if we had one!).  22 - 10, 63mins.

Academy began to really control the game in the last quarter of the match, but some controversial refereeing sees Academy denied what some observers thought should be a penalty try.  Andy Kirkpatrick blatantly tackled off the ball when running as the supporting player.  Coach McKee baffled! Mal thought it was time to get the gloves on again…..

Academy lineout has been fantastic all match, as has the passing and movement of the backline.  This combination sees UUC pinned in their own half for the last ten minutes of the game.  Lesser opposition would have conceded as Academy came close to scoring a number of times.  “Zippy” Carson then took matters into his own hands by fielding a UUC clearance kick and, from about 30 meters out, drop kicks Academy to another 3 points (38mins).  Awesome!  After what seemed like ten minutes of injury time, Academy finish 25 - 10 victors.

Eleven starts…..eleven wins!!

Honorable mentions to Chris “Boot” Cooper, Gurt, Hendy, Nashy

Man of the Match: Andy Eggleton

The Management……