Fight back earns students win

North West Regional College.................18

NORTH West Regional College recorded a great victory over University of Ulster last Wednesday in Belfast to go top of the All Ireland Colleges Division two league with only one game remaining against Sligo IT next week at home.

The Derry students came from 15 points to 3 points down at half time to score two try’s and a penalty to snatch a well deserved victory.

North West College started brightly with the majority of possession and were 3 points up after ten minutes through the boot of out half David Smyth. University of Ulster came back into the game and scored their first try after fifteen minutes which was followed with a penalty on 25 minutes to give the Belfast Students the lead by 8 points to 3 points.

While the Derry students were dominating the set pieces through their front row that included Limavady Student and Man of the Match Glen McAfee, captain Cathal Creggan and Mickey O’Kane the Jordanstown backs always looked dangerous once the ball got to the outside channels.

UUJ increased their lead on 35 minutes when their winger got in for a try which was converted by their out half to give them a 12 points lead at the break.

The North West students played to their strengths in the second half and with out half David Smyth controlling the game with his astute kicking, he kept Jordanstown on the back foot. The Derry forwards dominated the line outs through Jokin Bilbao and with good driving forward play Cathal Creggan touched down for the first try of the second half which David Smyth converted to put his team right back in the game.

Nathan Deeney was moved to No 8 and the switch paid dividends with 15 minutes gone when after a number of forwards drives Deeney touched down for a vital unconverted try to level the game at 15 points each.

David Smyth sealed victory on 25 minute of the second half with a well struck penalty from 35 metres to give North West College a 3 points lead which they never relinquished to the end of the game.