Momentous day for Ophir

It was a momentous day for Ophir as for the first time in some 35 years they were fielding three competitive senior teams - the Third XV played Grosvenor Fourths on the adjacent pitch, whilst the First XV travelled to Newry.

Prior to the match all the players, officials and spectators gathered for a minutes silence to mark the anniversary of the sad passing of Ophir player Ryan Seeley. It was an immensely moving moment and Ryan's father, Paul, joined with the club in remembrance.

Newry kicked off and the early stages of the game were fairly evenly balanced. The first breakthrough came from Ophir with captain John Condell leading a typical charging forward run. From a ruck on the Newry line, prop Jonjo Flood gathered the ball and leapt over the pile of bodies to touch down. Scrumhalf Alan Davidson succeeded with the conversion and Ophir led 7 points to nil.

Ophir maintained their pressure from the restart and clever touch kicking from out half Michael Smith kept Newry well pinned back in their own territory. In the 20th minute John Condell broke clear from recycled possession, and this time evaded three tackles to score near the posts. It was a fine individual effort and Alan Davidson again converted to double Ophir's lead.

This spurred Newry into some spirited forward play and they worked their way gradually towards the Ophir line. But the defence held and the home team were grateful for Michael Smith's tactical awareness and sound line kicking to help clear the danger.

In the 30th minute Ophir were awarded a penalty for offside on the Newry 22 which they opted to run. The move broke down close to the line, but from the ensuing 5 metre scrum, centre Johnny Graham was driven over the line by the Ophir pack. Davidson converted once more to put Ophir in the lead by 21 points to 0. Five minutes later the ever busy prop, Rab Flanagan was on hand to beat a despairing Newry player to a touchdown, after a defensive kick had been skilfully charged down. The half time whistle blew with Ophir in a comfortable 28 point lead.

But that was it. The second half was a dour, listless affair. Newry came back into the game but dogged Ophir defence held on to snuff out any promising looking moves. Apart from a couple of stirring attacking runs from Ross Nelson and Rab Flanagan, neither side managed to score a point in the second session and the game ended as it had been 40 minutes earlier.

On the adjacent pitch, Ophir Thirds put up a strong defence against a very mobile Grosvenor team. The home team, clearly outclassed, managed to confine their deficit to 13 points at the break, but in the second half, Grosvenor ran riot with a string of tries past a tiring Ophir defence. At the final whistle it was Ophir 0, Grosvenor 37.

There was no better news from Newry where Ophir's First XV, trailing by 13 points at half time, lost by 20 points to 14.

This Saturday Ophir First XV have no game, while the Seconds and Thirds are both due to travel to local rivals Randalstown.