Slow start but success for Larne 3rds

With 3 wins from 3 Larne looked to extend their unbeaten run. In what was destined to be a tough physical game Larne drafted in relative newcomer J. McCluggage and Leeds superstar M. McKinley to add extra wallop to an already solid pack. The back line mixed age experience and wisdom in the half back pairing with the youth and speed of the centers and fullback.

Despite the raw skill on display, Larne struggled to find second gear and much of the first half seemed sluggish. PSNIs equally physical pack caused upset in the visitor’s attempts to crash the ball through by holding the ball up for a turnover time and time again. Both sides defences looked nigh un-breachable and PSNI resorted to an early penalty to put points on the board.

There were moments of hope for the Glynn lads with McCluggage, Cooke and Kelso battering opposition aside and McKinley, Davies and Williamson stepping inside to make space to advance but the home closed these avenues down quickly. Mid-way through the half a spark of brilliance on the left saw McKinley break through the PSNI line with support from the forwards.

Good hands inevitably saw juggernaut Gaw cross the try line to start off Larne’s scoring. This kick started the offensive power Larne had used in the previous games and began to play more and more of the game inside PSNI territory.

White line fever started to creep in now that a try had been scored and the forwards seemed to forget that the visitors had brought any backs with them. Marshalled expertly by outhalf Knox the backs fashioned several overlaps but the ball wouldn’t leave the care of the pack.

The home defense stood strong again holding the ball up over the line over and over and frustrating all concerned. No further points were scored leaving Larne ahead 3-5 at the break.

In the second half the Larne lads started to use their rolling subs to greater effect.

This infusion of fresh legs seemed to turn the tide and the visitors upped the ante with McKinley leading the charge through a tiring PSNI defense. But the home pack still had enough energy to thwart most attempts of the forwards to break the whitewash so the backs were given another opportunity to strut their stuff.

Tries from Kelso and Davies insured the spectators were not disappointed. Gaw also looked like he had scored his second in the corner but in a déjà vu moment the referee judged that it was a knock on rather than a try.

PSNI’s fullback remained dangerous and threatened to be the source of the home side’s next points but Kelso and Cooke kept a watchful eye. J. Shirley (recently turned “25”) interchanged with fullback Davies on the wing but couldn’t seem to make it past the last tackles and PSNI turned over the ball in quick counter rucking. Not to be left out of the scoring the pack stepped up a gear, a number of quick pick and goes saw a steady maul head for the home try line.

With McCluggage firmly in possession of the ball the only thing that could stop the certain try was the posts, and as McCluggage crashed into the upright there was a chance that it would topple and allow the forwards their first try but fate ruled that this time the post would win (although according to one unnamed Larne player hitting the post as ball carrier meant it should have counted as a try).

Johnston was the next to attempt to get the pack on the score sheet. Again the forwards rumbled forward towards the whitewash and from the back of a ruck right at the line Johnston lifted the ball, channeled his inner dolphin and dived over the line. Desperate to win more points for the pack McCluggage opted to take the conversion and was sadly denied again by the posts.

Larne continued to harass the opposition at the set pieces; Williamson and McDowell disrupting the lineouts and Ferguson and Butler giving the front row a hard time in the scrums. A much more impressive performance in the second half from the visitors saw them finish out the game winning 3-29.

But with credit to the PSNI, they were the most difficult pack the 3rds have had to play against this season.

Team: J. Butler, S. Johnston, A. Ferguson, R. Williamson, J. McCluggage, M. McKinley, S. McDowell, G. Liddle, A. Darragh, G. Knox, G. Gaw, N. Kelso, M. Cooke, J. Shirley, L. Davies, J. McNee, B. Meikle