Larne continue rich vein of form against PSNI

AMNEXDAY sponsored Larne 1st XV entertained PSNI in their Qualifying 3 League Campaign. There was a pre match function before the game kindly sponsored by B9 energy.

Larne made a lot of changes to the side that beat Newry two weeks previously. Craig Gibson, Matt Crampsey and Eddie Hunter came in to the pack. There was a debut for Jordan Burns at outside centre and a well deserved start on the wing for Matthew Agnew.

Captain McCluggage lost the toss at the start of the game as a result the Larne men played in to the wind in the first half. Aaron McBride started the game and at the restart the Larne men won the ball back. As they spread the ball wide rampaging winger Rhys Thomas finished off a well taken score.

This was the start of the flood gates opening.

There were tries in the first half for Ricky McIlheron, 2 for Ryan Garrett, Ryan McAllister and another one for Rhys Thomas.

The Larne men played with great fluidity with quick ball allowing Aaron McBride to get big centres Mills and Burns in to the game. As they created havoc in the midfield this allowed open spaces for Thomas, Garrett and Agnew to run riot.

In the pack the lineouts worked well with Crampsey dominating in both attack and defence. The scrums also held firm against a much larger and heavier pack. Credit were credit is due the PSNI came in to the game and attacked the Larne defence, however the men in reds defence stood firm. A good line break by the PSNI centre saw him close to the line only to be smashed back by a great covering tackle by full back Garrett.

At half time the score was 50-0. Laurence Kelly warned his troops that complacency was not to creep in the second half as there was plenty to work on before next week’s big game against Holywood.

At the start of the second half there was further scores for the two McIlheron brothers, Ryan McAllister, Rhys Thomas completed his hattrick, Matthew Agnew and Eddie Hunter got on the score sheet. At the stroke of the 60th minute the referee blew the whistle.

Larne ran out winners 77-0.

It was a comprehensive team performance by the men in red from 1-15. The new combinations seemed to work well. Crampsey and McCluggage rekindled their second row partnership from previous seasons and continued were they left off complimenting each well. Eddie Hunter added composure at the back of the scrum with great hands. McIlheron and McBride did well at half backs and the centre combination of Mills and Burns looked very exciting.

However, the Larne man of the match was open side Mark McIlheron who is in outstanding form at the moment.

“Next week Larne entertain major rivals Holywood in their final group game of the Gordon West Cup. The team ask for as much as support as possible to cheer them on”.

Larne Team 1-15: C Gibson, R McAllister, C Rea, M Crampsey, J McCluggage (Capt), G Jamison, M McIlheron, E Hunter, R McIlheron, A McBride, R Thomas, G Mills, J Burns, M Agnew, R Garrett

Photo Credit:
Bill Guiller