Larne’s Burns proves too hot to handle for Ophir

The Glynn outfit were 10-0 up within five minutes with unconverted tries from Burns (inset) and skipper Ryan Garrett.

The captain was on the scoresheet again when he intercepted a pass and sprinted the length of the pitch to run in under the posts.

Thomas was next to cross the line after seeing off a couple of defenders before full-back Hall extended their advantage yet further.

Burns found himself in a bit of space when he glided round a number of defenders to dot down in the corner, giving Larne a half-time 34-0 lead.

Ophir came out fighting in the second-half and after a first-class driving maul, flanker Johnny Murphy managed to squirm his way out of a tackle to get the ball down under the Larne posts. Out-half, Alan Davidson, converted.

But Larne hit back and it was that man Burns who landed his third score of the afternoon to help the Men in red re-assert their authority.

Close-range tries from McCluggage and Rea then stretched the gap further.

Ophir responded when Neil Gray controlled the ball going forward, and scrum-half Karl Davis set up Dave Lucas to cross the line.

Larne stepped it up a gear in the last 10 minutes and a great line from Agnew saw him disappear to score in the corner. Burns wasn’t finished and he haunted the Ophir side on two more occasions.

Next up: Carrick v Larne, Hawkins Cup, Dec. 20.