Sep
12
Magic 2's v Currie 2's - September 16th
Meggetland had an air of anticipation to it on Saturday. With 80 women in the clubhouse at the Ladies’ Lunch and noisy boo's echoing through the ground as the six male guests sat down to join them only to turn to laughter as the president Stevie Douglas'' phone went off in his speech. Scott Hastings duly made him down a pint for being an “Erse”!!!!
The boys also had smiles and after a good training session through the week the confidence was high and so it should be especially as we gathered our own kick off through the leaping salmon that is John Troxler, got go forward and gained a penalty as Currie tried to kill the move. 18yr old Mikey Wilson kicked the 3 points and the smiles widened.
Currie then exerted some good pressure over the next few minutes but our defence held strong and Conor Henderson cleared the danger. From that kick, we won ball back after the line-out, hit a ruck up the right side, created quick ball and fed the slippery Rory Scott at inside centre who eased round the slightly larger frame of Ross Weston, who recently married our ex-physio Natalie Foy and may still have been on Honeymoon mode, then proceed to step two more players and outpace the full back for the try of the season so far. Wilson kicked the conversion to make it 10-0.
It was 16 minutes in before we got the first scrum of the game. A good indication that this was a free-flowing game with running the ball was the main aim for both teams. Henderson broke and fed the industrious Matt Walker who was clearing up ball and winning breakdowns all day long. He went forwards and drew a penalty from the Currie defence. We kicked it the corner but once again the strong Currie defence got turnover and cleared the danger. still only half way through the first stanza and for the next 20 both teams refused to let anyone through with strong defence and good tactical plays.
The end of the half saw Currie, once again, give a penalty away after great work by Walker and Big Aubrey to win a penalty. we decided to kick to corner then won line-out drove up three times, then released the backs and fed the ball wide only for the Currie centre to stick one hand out and knock on ball. Surely a penalty, possible penalty try with the overlap, and realistically a yellow card with the new laws in place... Nope a line-out!! Coaches confused and Curie side-line quiet for a change.
Half time and coaches and players happy so no major changes required. More of the same, grind them down and then play the ball wide. Currie had other ideas and 4 mins in they drove over for a converted score. The next 36 minutes of the half were played mainly in the Currie half. Pressure was soaked up by them but surely it was only time before the pressure told. Our youthful exuberance showed when we tapped and went quickly, with limited support, at 15 minutes in and through that lacking support Currie cleared.
At 22 minutes, we drove them backwards 4 or 5 times to their own line but their defence stayed intact and once again cleared the danger.
It wasn't until the 34th minute that we got a scrum 15m out after good sustained pressure. Aubrey, who was powerful all day long and impressing the coaches, then picked and drove forward, the clear out was quick and Raef Morrison in his first game back and only on for 15 minutes got ball in his hands and dived through the air like a hungry kingfisher looking for a meal and dotted down to seal the game with Wilson converting after missing a fairly easy penalty 8 minutes prior. (had to mention it).
All in all, a great game to match, with a good Currie team who should be credited for their strong defence and Weston although 'retried' held the pack together and winger Cammy Smith punished our loose kicks. The Magic 2s held strong though and showed great character and confidence to not panic and bide their time. Walker, MnCube and Ollie James were the pick of the pack and Scott and Welsh looked good in the backs. The MOM for me was Rory Scott who talked to the guys well, ran hard and although there were a couple of half tackles he defended strongly as a whole.
Coaches happy, manager happy, players happy.......The Magic 2s have arrived!
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To see more photos of the match head over to the Club's Facebook to view the album.
