Larne 2's continue fine form with win over Portadown

With a great 35-38 away win against Clogher Valley last week, Larne 2nds were keen to keep the fine recent form they had been going on.

Portadown kicked the game off and with the strong wind behind their backs, Larne played the kicking game superbly through McBride and Knox – both kickers drilling Portadown into their own half.

Larne’s early pressure paid off when the wide ball was spread out to Steven McAlister showing some pace before Johnny Cole finished off the well worked try.

A well worked scrum gave Johnny McKinty a good set up to rumble towards the Portadown line before Cole was on hand again, to score his and Larne’s second try of the game, crashing over from close range. McBride converting the score.

In an attempt to clear the ball from their own line, a loose kick was caught by Brian Blair who managed to offload to Peter Reid who came agonisingly close to the line. Quick recycled ball allowed McBride to spot a gap in the drifting defence and score over the whitewash.

McBride continued to rack up points when he slotted over a penalty with ease to give Larne a 0-20 lead.

Portadown had the chance to get onto the scoreboard but 3 points weren’t converted when a penalty went astray and gaps in the Larne defence allowed the full back to break off some tackles, proving they still had something to fear on a counterattack.

Larne continued to use their strong kicking game when a fine kick was chased up field by Houston Saunderson and used his George Best football skills to hack the ball around the defender and go behind the posts. Easily converted by McBride and end of the half.

Half Time score 0-27.

Larne looked to have a tough second half with the wind pressed against them, but to their luck virtuously disappeared, giving Portadown no advantage for themselves to use.

Some missed opportunities and phases of play that couldn’t be kept in hand did not favour the winning side as they looked to capitalise on their lead and for the first score of the half.

Portadown gradually grinded their way up the field through a strong rolling maul, proving the height of their game, but fantastic defence by Larne kept them at bay.

Luke Cameron continued his hard working effort at the lineout by pressuring his opposite jumper and forcing turn overs for Larne at key stages of the game.

Larne shut Portadown out of the game completely when they overturned a maul and ran away through McKinty barging up the field before Brian Blair tore apart the defensive line with a storming run.

Final Score: Portadown 0-27 Larne.

All 15 members of the team played well to challenge 1st XV places and some tough decisions for the selection committee, will be the main talk ahead of next week’s games.

Larne: D.Lough, S. McAlister, A. Ferguson, J. Cole, P. Reid, L. Cameron, J. Johnson, J. McKinty, B. Garrett, A. McBride, N. Kelso, G. Knox, J. Burns, B. Blair, H. Saunderson