Larne Thirds sink Service

The home team, who welcomed back influential captain Gareth Hardy into the starting line-up, began this encounter the brighter of the two sides.

And it wasn’t long before Magil sliced through the visitors’ defence for the first try of the day.

While Service were still coming to terms with the early score, prop Johnston crashed over for Larne’s second try with Agnew adding the extras from the conversion.

On the wings, Bergin and Thompson were tormenting their respective opposite numbers, and it was from good play out wide that space was created for Morrow to sprint through and score in the corner. Agnew duly converted with the kick.

There was further misery for the visitors when Larne scored again to take a 26-0 lead into the break. Number eight Mark McIlheron, making his return after over a year away from the game, picked up from the base of the scum and showed good vision to slip a pass to scrum-half Kernohan who nipped in to score below the posts.

Larne began the second session with Falconer, McAuley and McDowell rebuffing Service’s attempts to get back into the game.

Magil scored his second of the day with a carbon copy of his first before Webb and Gilbert stretched the visitors’ rearguard again when Wharry had the simplest task in scoring from a metre out. Agnew stepped up and converted the resulting kick.

The home side completed the rout when Agnew received a quick tap penalty to dive in for a try of his own. His successful conversion left the final score 45-0.

Man of the Match: Ian McAuley

Larne III: Hardy (c), Falconer, Johnston, Webb, Gilbert, McDowell, McAuley, McIlheron, Kernohan, Morrow, Bergin, Magil, Agnew, Thompson, Wharry. Replacements: McNeil, McKee, Brennan.

After a two-week break Larne 1st XV continue their Qualifying 3b league campaign in an away fixture to Randalstown on Saturday. It will be a tricky test for the Glynn men against a youthful Randasltown team. Fixtures: Randalstown 1st XV v Larne 1st XV; Larne 2nd XV vs Portadown 3rd XV; Larne 3rd XV vs Randalstown 3rd XV.