Grammar face Methodist College in next round after Foyle win

The Limavady lads have been drawn with schools rugby heavyweights Methodist College, Belfast in the last 16 of the prestigious cup competition, with the match due to be played on February 8, 2014.

The Limavady Grammar School versus Foyle Collge game kicked off in reasonable weather, but only a matter of minutes into the game atrocious weather conditions moved in making the playing of the game very difficult for both teams.

It is a credit to both sets of players and to referee Gareth Dunlop that this game got finished. Limavady won the toss

and chose to play into the elements which Foyle out-half McDonald used the conditions well to pin Limavady pack into their 22.

It took Foyle eight minutes before they registered the first score of the game when Limavady were caught offside and McDonald slotted the penalty from 20 metres. With conditions worsening, most of the game was to be played upfront. The Limavady pack kept the ball for large periods of time constantly pushing their Foyle counterparts back and with Limavady centres Michael Barr and Jamie Millar punching holes in midfield it appeared only a matter of time before Limavady would take the lead. A try duely came on 20 minutes when after good work by the pack, Limavady centre Jamie Millar broke through the Foyle midfield and scored under the posts. McClean added the simple conversion. From the

restart the Limavady half-backs made a mistake and this allowed Foyle to exert some pressure. Limavady were pinned for not rolling away at a ruck and Foyle out-half McDonald kicked the points.

The second half was almost played entirely in the Foyle half, and Limavady went close on a number of occasions but with over-head conditions deteriorating by the minute, players on both sides were finding it difficult to hold onto the ball. After 10 minutes of pressure Limavady out-half McClean kicked another penalty and five minutes later went close with another attempt. Under-foot conditions were appalling making all further penalty attempts at goal impossible. 20 minutes into the second half the Limavady pack mauled Foyle over the line with Brendan Ferguson touching down. Limavady scrum-half Ross Allen was now pushing Foyle back deep into their own 22 with some astute kicking and again Limavady went close on a number of occasions.

Limavady Grammar thoroughly deserved this victory as they controlled both territory and possession and but for the horrific conditions, would clearly have won the game more comfortably. Both sets of coaching staff were forced to work hard at the end of the game as a number of boys in each team were suffering from the extreme cold and wet conditions.

Speaking after the game to the Sentinel, Limavady Captain Michael Barr said he was delighted with the win and paid tribute to his pack who he said laid the foundations for this victory. He said “we dominated both scrum and line out and it was difficult for Foyle to deal with our physicality.” He was also confident that his team could go to Methody in the next round and win.