CI christen POWER NI away kit with draw at Dromore

Dromore RFC v CIYMS RFC Saturday 09/03/13

CIYMS visited Dromore on Saturday 9^th March in what was an important game for both clubs in their quest for a top 4 finish in the league.

Both sides were missing a number of regulars in their line up.

C.I. took to the field in this seasons new Power N.I. away kit; brilliant blue and black hoops on a white background.It didn’t stay brilliant for very long. Conditions were awful.. a heavy pitch, pouring rain and strong winds proved challenging for both teams.

C.I. played into the wind in the first half. To their credit they tried to play open rugby from the off. Strong running and ball carrying from the pack, especially McReynolds, Hackney and both props gave us go forward ball. Our back line used the ball very well

despite the conditions and we made line breaks numerous times.

Whilst our tactics were correct, it proved difficult to make the final pass stick. In the first half hour C I dominated possession and territory and had numerous penalty opportunities. However they could not be converted due to conditions.

In that period Dromore were limited to a long range penalty attempt which was missed.

Eventually strong pressure paid off and after several phases of attacking rugby,2^nd row  Paddy Aiken crashed over for try. The conversion was missed.

Dromore had not used the wind well in the first half, mainly because they couldn’t keep hold of the ball. However that changed just before half time. A good kick to the corner led to a lineout from which the home side rolled over for a well executed try, very much against the run of play.

Half Time 5:5.

Turning with a gale at their backs the away team had a sense of mission accomplished. It did not turn out that way.

Despite early pressure on the Dromore line C I did not score thanks mainly to strong home defence. As the game progressed so the home pack got stronger, with a strong ball carrying performance from their no.8.It became an arm wrestle in the mud. It soon became almost impossible to differentiate both teams in a brown mess.

Dromore finished strongly and had several rolling mauls stopped on the line. That said the defence from CI was tremendous, showing great commitment.

Late in the game, and against the run of play, C I made a clean break from a strong scrum but unfortunately put a foot in touch with the line in sight.

Dromore rallied again but could not convert pressure into points, missing a kick in the dying moments.

It was definitely a game of 2 halves and credit to both teams for their efforts in appalling conditions. 2 points earned the hard way.

Full Time 5: 5 Draw.

Off the pitch Dromore hospitality was excellent as usual.

CIYMS 23 v Cooke 17 30th January 2013

CIYMS ‘COOKE’ UP A STORM!

CI entered this game with a number of significant injuries and absences and fresh off the back of a lacklustre defeat at the hands of Donaghadee. As has been the case on a number of occasions, CI’s determination for this fixture was obvious in the quality and intensity of the warm up, knowing that a win was essential to maintain the challenge for a 2^nd place spot in Qualifying 1.

It was Cooke however, who edged the opening exchanges and used their kicking game to control territory. An early infringement by CI was punished with a converted penalty to give Cooke the first points of the evening. After a couple of forward advances that were repelled near the CI line, the ball was spun wide and the Cooke centre showed good determination, adopting a low body angle to barge his way over for the opening score. The try was converted to give Cooke a 10-0 lead.

There had certainly been some positive CI advances in the early stages but the majority had been halted by the referee’s enthusiasm with Gavin Woods in particular being penalised on a number of occasions that restricted CI’s early momentum. CI built pressure for the remainder of the half, good recycling and work by the forwards provided evidence that the team had more than enough resources to worry the opposition. CI were rewarded with a converted penalty at the second attempt to score their first points.

HALF TIME: CI: 3 – 10 Cooke

The team was still confident at the start of the second half, having shown enough promise in the first to mount a comeback. It was started by a break by scrum half Wilson and back-row Gledhill which saw Neil Wallace released down the left wing and in for the score to make it 8-10. The conversion was missed.

In a period of broken play Phil McVitty chipped ahead before re-gathering superbly and releasing out half Stephen Foster who found a gap and despite looking to offload, eventually backed himself to cross the line for a fine score to put CI into a 13-10 lead. The conversion was again unsuccessful.

CI were then guilty of failing to respond with a kick after a Cooke up and under. A poor scrambled pass to scrum half Michael Wilson saw his clearance kick charged down, with the ricochet taking the ball into the CI 22. The resulting chase saw the Cooke centre hack the ball on before excellent covering by Richard Kirkwood held him up just short. The resulting melee on the line saw one of the Cooke forwards edge his way over from close quarters. The wide angled conversion was well converted to put Cooke back into a 17-13 lead.

CI refused to panic at a score that was largely against the run of play and were now beginning to utilise the ball with confidence, combining strong running from the likes of Mark Scott and Ross Hackney with the hard yards from the front five. Stuart Fergusson was particularly prominent in both the tight and loose. A quick turnover following good work at the breakdown from Chris Davidson saw Gledhill combine with Wilson who finished superbly down the right flank to put CI back into an 18-17 lead.

A good number of zigzagging phases soon after saw Ross Hackney hold a number of defenders with a strong run before sending the pass out wide to Skipper Gavin Woods who went over unopposed to ground the ball for the bonus point 4^th try and a 23-17 lead. Particularly pleasing during the evening were the communication and effort in defence that had been lacking a week ago. CI were selective in choosing when to apply pressure and forced mistakes from Cooke. Whilst not able to relax due to a 6 point lead, CI were able to keep the opposition pinned down in their own half for the final part of the game to seal the win.

FINAL SCORE:             CI: 23   Cooke: 17

CI will be delighted with the performance having not played much rugby recently due to match cancellations and particularly pleased to have obtained a bonus point away from home. With a better conversion % from the tee, the win could have been more comfortable.

Cooke will no doubt be frustrated with their performance and overall record for this season and happy to turn their focus to next year’s campaign already.

CIYMS 2nd XV 49 Lisburn 2nd XV 13 8/12/2012

CIYMS 2′s perform against Lisburn at home.

Saturday 8th December at Belmont.

Saturday saw the visit of Lisburn to Belmont. The 2nd XV have produced a run of good results recently and were unbeaten in their last four league games.

However, with a number of injuries in the senior squad, there was a slightly unfamiliar feel to both the forwards and the back line. This game was also punctuated with the last game for Ollie and Brett who are returning to the Southern Hemisphere next week, after a year working at Campbell College.

Having not started well in the last couple of games, the first 10 minutes of this encounter was always going to be important. The team talked about it before the game and thankfully the they started well with foraging runs from Stuart Hackney, who was excellent all day,  Matt Mawhinney and Brett Lennox into Lisburn’s 22. It was not long before we had the first score on the board. Stuart Hackney went over from 15 yards out after a solid scrum with a pick and go. Andy Hassard missed the conversion.

It was Hassard that provided the next score. Lisburn went through a  series of phases through their impressive back row, but lost the ball with great work from Ricky Maunder in the turnover. Ollie went blind, fed Hassard who glided through the gap and set off for the corner. The pass to Omar on the wing was miss-timed and CIYMS were back into the Lisnburn 22. Lisburn infringed at the scrum, and with the penalty awarded, the quick thinking Hassard tapped and dived over for a score before Lisburn knew what had happened. Hassard added the extras.

The senior players also talked about taking points when they were on offer and build a score whenever play took them to the opposition 22. This game plan led to a penalty being converted by Hassard after Lisburn were caught offside.

15 – 0 after 28 minutes.

At the half hour mark, Lisburn rallied and went looking for something before the half time whistle. A break by the no.7 through the middle was well tackled by Hassard at full back but the ball was recycled and after some good rallied defence, the scrum half used a penalty advantage to pop over a drop goal for the ruck. It was an opportune ‘shot to nothing’, which was not out of the coaching manual

Straight from the re start, CIYMS were awarded another penalty for an infringement and Hassard again added the points from centre of the pitch, just outside the 22.

18 – 3 after 36 minutes.

CIYMS went to sleep from the kick off when the high ball was tapped back, missed by the covering player, only for the Lisburn number 7 to collect, recycle and move the ball wide to a waiting player to dive over for a score right on half time. The conversion was missed

Half Time: 18 – 8

The half time team talk was all about composure and execution with the backs feeling that they could really cut loose if given the right platform.

And so it proved, as 10 minutes into the second half came the try of the match.

CIYMS were awarded a scrum on the 10 metre line and with our dominance in the scrum now beginning to tell, a strong pick and go from Hackney broke the gain line. Quick ball from Ollie to Stephen Foster missed out to Gareth O’Neill who stepped in for Phil McVitty to collect, draw the man and put Omar away over the line and round under the posts -Executed with skill. Hassard added the conversion.

25 – 8

From the kick off, CIYMS took possession cleanly and were dominant up front and special mention must go to the front row of Tom Stevenson, Ross Taylor and Ian McWilliams who totally overwhelmed their opposing front row. Testament to this was the massive 6 scrums won against the head in the second half alone. It was from a strike against the head that the ball went through the hands of the backs, releasing Omar on the wing. A strong run led to him being held up in the 22, where an excellent off load to the supporting McVitty put him over for the first of his two tries. Hassard failed to add the extras.

30 – 8

By this time, CIYMS were rampant. Wave after wave of attack came from the rejuvenated Hackney, the excellent physicality of Ricky maunder and the drive and determination of Tom Stevenson. It was one of these runs that set up Ricky Kirkwood for the first of his two tries after another excellent run from Andy Hassard. It was Kirkwood who was on hand to provide the killer finish. Hassard added the conversion.

With 10 minutes left Kirkwood scored again from another hard break from Stuart Hackney with excellent off loading from Lennox and Hugill.

The last try was added by McVitty who collected the ball at an early maul from Kirkwood, and once confirmation had been received that ‘yep I have it’, he run uncontested under the posts. Hassard added the extras.

With 5 minutes left and will fatigue setting in, Lisburn scored a good try from an interception, but with the last play of the game not far away, the result stood 49 – 13.

The 2^nd XV are getting stronger every week with an excellent high tempo, physical game. We now have a break for the Crawford Cup and are not back in League action until 29^th December. On this performance, there is no reason why the team cannot challenge for the title in 2013.

CIYMS 2nd XV 47 v Clogher Valley 2nd XV 7 24/11/2012

Saturday saw the visit of Clogher Valley 2nd’s to Belmont in the Junior League one clash. Having come off the back of two good away wins, the 2nd XV were keen to keep the momentum moving in the right direction with the first home game for a few weeks. Bolstered by a number of returning players who were not available through injury and work commitments, the team, lead by Duncan Gleadhill was a strong one.

Clogher started the better with a number of short runs from rucks coming from their enthusiastic back row. However, in truth they never looked like breaking through a defensive line that was organised and was demonstrating good line speed.

CI had to wait 15 minutes for the first score. From first phase ball, good handling from Neil Wallace, Gareth O’Neill and Ollie Morrison allowed for Andrew Balmforth to be in the right place at the right time to cross in the corner. While Dan McVicar could not add the extras, it was a sign of things to come. The second and third scores were all done up front. Excellent work by Brett Lennox, Chris Davidson, Tom Stevenson and  Stuart Hackney at the line out created the platform for Duncan Gleadhill to muscle his way over from the rolling maul, for the first of his two tries.

From then on CI dominated up front. Strong runs from Omar in the loose, followed up with good link play with Morty and Chris Davidson created the platform for Dan McVicar and Stephen Foster to dictate the game with a certain amount of ease. Clogher continued to compete at the breakdown and Ricky Kirkwood was particularly unlucky not to score in the corner on a number of occasions after the rehearsed back moves were well executed.

Ian McWilliams showed why he is under rated in the loose by collecting a lot of short ball from the breakdown and it was his initial break that allowed for Neil Wallace to cross for our last score. His ‘dancing feet’ baffled the Clogher centres from the 3rd phase and he went in under the posts to secure a 47-7 win.

In truth, it could have been more, but with everyone contributing in both the loose and the set piece, a good day at the office for the 2nds and pleasing to put a sequence of good wins together.

Saturday sees the team at Banbridge which will be another tough encounter, but for now, the boys can enjoy a well-deserved victory.

FINAL SCORE:             CI: 47             Clogher Valley: 7

CIYMS 13 v Portadown 10 24/11/2012

CIYMS BEAT THE BLUES

CIYMS welcomed league leaders Portadown to Belmont on Saturday for a highly anticipated Kukri Qualifying League 1 contest.

Portadown had been in a rich vein of form in the run-up to this game, having won all seven of their previous league games. More impressive was that each of those seven wins had been achieved with a try-scoring bonus point for scoring four tries or more. CIYMS on the other hand had shown only glimpses of their top form to date, most recently in securing an away win last week at Ballymoney.

In was one of the fastest starts that will be seen in Ulster rugby this season when CI number 9 Michael Wilson added to his try tally almost immediately off the kick off. Wilson charged down the attempted box kick of his opposite number before gathering and scampering in at the corner. The conversion was missed by O’Hara to leave the score at 5-0 to CI.

Portadown, somewhat riled by the instant five point deficit, then pressured the CI defence with a series of scrums and pick up moves in the CI 22. It was during this period, that CI hooker Matt Brown was sent to the sin-bin following one too many team infringements at the ruck. Bizarrely, Portadown turned down a number of relatively kickable penalty chances opting to go for the corner instead. It didn’t pay off, with handling errors letting the Mid-Ulstermen down on each occasion. CI remained steadfast in the face of the one dimensional pick and drive game offered by Portadown to lead 5-0 at the break.

HALF TIME: CI 5 – 0 Portadown

The second half started with Portadown repeating their tactic of kicking to the corner to set up a lineout and maul. A pattern of forward orientated pressure was sustained in a 15 minutes period that saw CI clear their lines on a number of occasions.

CI back-row McConkey was the second player to be shown yellow and effective work from the resulting penalty and 5 metre lineout saw the Portadown second-row carried over from a wheeling maul. The conversion was added to make the score 7-5 to Portadown.

CI responded and out-half O’Hara made up for an easier penalty miss earlier in the second half to land a long-range effort that edged CI back into a 8-7 lead.

Portadown then resumed their relentless pick and drive tactics modelled on Clogher Valley’s success last year. It was during one of this phases that a tackle and rip by CI Captain Woods on Portadown skipper Lamb saw the loose ball picked up by his CI front-row partner Stuart Ferguson. Ferguson sold a fine dummy to the Portadown out-half before sending a pass out to left-winger Rory Barton who raced in for the score from just inside half-way. The conversion was again missed to leave the score at 13-7.

Portadown responded again with both sets of forwards beginning to tire due to the physical nature of the contest. A CI infringement saw Portadown edge closer with a converted penalty to make the score 13-10 going into the closing stages.

Portadown now sensed blood as they looked to apply pressure for a winning score. They again turned down the option to kick a long range penalty and kicked to the corner. The CI defence rallied once more against the maul and the pack were delighted with their work when the final whistle was sounded.

FINAL SCORE:             CI: 13             Portadown: 10

CI will be delighted with their commitment levels in what was a physical game throughout the 80 minutes. Portadown will rue the loss of their unbeaten record but will no doubt remain confident for the return fixture.

CI now look to make best use of their game in hand next Saturday against Donaghadee.

CIYMS 60 Academy 28 8th September 2012

On an unusually warm day at Roughfort CIYMS 1^st XV commenced their Qualifying League 1 campaign for 2012/13. CI fielded a strong team which incorporated several of their new recruits who joined the club over the summer.

CI set out their stall in the first play of the game with Matthew Armstrong chasing down the Academy out-half, allowing the pack to turn the ball over. Within 5 minutes of kick-off, working off a strong scrum inside their half, CI executed a textbook 8, 9, 14 move down the blindside with Andrew Balmforth finishing in the corner scoring his first try in his competitive debut for CIYMS. Long overdue Bam!

CI continued to exert pressure on Academy over the next 10 minutes with good work in the middle of the back line by both Joel Semple and John Castles and massive tackling from back row Mark McConkey. The phase work up the middle of the park was complemented by good support provided by the forwards. This pressure lead to two penalties being converted by outhalf David O’Hara.

Despite their initial dominance CI let Academy back into the game throughout the remainder of the first half. A succession of penalties for infringements at the ruck saw Academy convert 2 penalties to draw closer to CI. Nine minutes before half time the referee sent Ross Hackney to the sin bin for failing to stay on his feet at the ruck. The yellow card was down to the accumulation of previous penalties rather than for Ross’s particular infringement. Just before the end of the first half, CI scored a try from a well executed rolling maul employing classic “Dowlesque” up-the-jumper play with Stuart Ferguson touching down amidst a mass of tubbies taking CI 18-6 up.

CI started the second half much in the same vain as the first half. They increased their intensity and for 25 minutes they did not let Academy into the game. During this period CI scored eight tries with scrum half Michael Wilson getting a hat-trick and a brace from openside speedster Matthew Armstrong. The forwards also exerted their dominance by scoring two further close range tries from a rolling maul. The second of which was scored by Mark Scott who peeled off the side of the ruck to drive over from 5 metres. The continuity and intensity of CI’s game during this period was excellent with the forwards carrying the ball particularly well. Working off the quick phase ball CI’s back line scored further tries which effectively closed out the game with 15 minutes left to play.

Up to this point CI had managed to keep their own try line intact however in the last 15 minutes the team’s intensity and organisation in defence went missing. Academy scored 3 tries during the last period of the game leaving the final score as 60-28 to CI.

Overall for the first game of the season it was a good start with the win and the strong attacking performance. However there are areas of CI’s performance that will require improvement notably the defence around the ruck area and ensuring that they maintain their intensity for 80 minutes.

CI now move onto a home game against Cooke next Saturday kicking off at 2.30pm. A good crowd would be much appreciated for what is certain to be a hotly contested game. The coaching staff would like to thank the support that came to the Academy game.

Man of the Match- Michael “Wilesy” Wilson

CIYMS v Lisburn (Pre-season friendly) 3rd September 2011

CIYMS won their last pre-season friendly 12-6 against tough opposition in Lisburn. In a game which was full of handling errors and missed tackles both sides struggled to find consistent form. Lisburn started well and dominated the first ten minutes however they only came away with 3 points. For the rest of the half CIYMS dominated with strong crash ball running from Mark McConkey, Steven Morton, Paddy Aiken and Lorenzo Burgess. CI’s backs had a number of opportunities to score with Andy Hodgen, Wes Henry and Thomas Horner all coming close but the game remained try-less at half time with Lisburn converting another penalty to go into the second half 6-3 up. The second half started in much the same vane with handling errors from both sides interrupting the flow of play. CI’s tackling was also, at times, suspect. However, with ten minutes to go the perserverance paid off and Joe Taylor smashed a run up the middle, off-loading to the backs and allowing Andy Hodgen to put Wes Henry through who finished beautifully between the posts to take the black and white aces 7-6 ahead. CI got the ball back and out-half Jonny Rowan cleverly and repeatedly stuck the ball into Lisburn’s corner placing the home team under great pressure. With two minutes to go Chris “Chippy” Davidson burst through the centre of a maul and skillfully offloaded to send Duncan Gleadhill through for a second unconverted CI try.

Final score Lisburn 6, CIYMS 12. Andy hodgen was the deserved recipient of the man of the match award.