Late loose ball sees Lisburn lose out in tight home contest

Trailing by just five points as the game entered the final minutes, and having been in the ascendancy for the previous fifteen minutes, Lisburn ran the ball from their own line only to see it dropped.

Academy scooped up the loose ball to score and the conversion made it 16 – 28, a scoreline that was rather harsh in the final analysis and reflected the dangers of playing catch up rugby from your own line.

Lisburn had started well despite having to make a last minute change in personnel when coach Mark Crothers had to step in to play at outhalf.

The home team attacked from the outset in what was regarded as an important Qualifying League 2 fixture and were 3-0 up after five minutes from a Crothers penalty.

Academy had a very strong scrum and on the ten minute mark they made good use of it to win a five metre scrum following which they pushed the Lisburn pack over the line to score. This was a rare occurrence for the home forwards who had a good scrum in all of the matches played to date and the try opened up a 3-5 lead.

The remainder of the half saw the kicker from either side converting a penalty each to leave the score 6-8.

Just on the half time whistle, Lisburn again broke through and when it was looking like a try under the posts, they took the ball into contact and lost possession – a vital opportunity which could have changed the game went amiss.

Academy re-started the game on the attack and Lisburn again fell to a sucker blow when the visitor’s outhalf ran diagonally across the pitch to score a well worked try which he converted to make it 6-15.

Lisburn were fighting hard to get into contention but despite some great picks and drives from the pack, their indiscipline was letting them down and another penalty gave Academy a 6-18 lead.

With 20 minutes to go, Lisburn at last started a comeback. Crothers kicked a penalty to narrow the gap but Academy then responded with a similar effort to leave it 9-21.

Despite continuing to have problems on their own lineout ball, a failing carried forward from the previous week against Omagh, Lisburn started to come into the game and put huge pressure on the visitors.

After a number of very solid scrums on the Academy line, Lisburn at last drove over and the conversion made it 16-21 with just three minutes remaining.

Academy brought the ball up to the home line but in trying to run it out Lisburn lost possession and Academy fell on the ball to clinch the score and the game. After looking like getting a bonus point, they were now left with nothing for their efforts.

Next Saturday the 1st XV have a free date while the Seconds travel to play Belfast Harlequins Thirds and the Thirds are at home to Ballymena Fifths.