Late try deniesbrave Lurgan

Lurgan led 20-18 going into the closing stages but a controversial try left the home team and support reeling.

Both teams were equally good making it a very tight and even cup tie. The intensity with which both sides played was astonishing. It was a brilliant game of rugby to watch.

Lurgan dominated the first half, they were much stronger in the scrums and rucks, and far more determined to score tries which resulted in Lurgan finishing the first half with twelve points ahead of Larne.

Captain Stephen Nolan gained the first points for Lurgan converting a penalty and shortly after scoring the first try.

Josh Greer scored the second try, and probably the most spectacular in the whole game, making the run on his own Josh smashed through Larne’s defence for a fine try.

Larne quickly mobilised in the second half and came back hard at Lurgan equalising the score and gaining extra penalty points.

Lurgan were slightly stunned at that point, but they answered to Larne’s offensive with another try from Daniel Lyness.

However, Larne scored the deciding, and somewhat controversial try in the final minutes of the match. Scooping the ball from the ruck, Larne’s winger made the run on his own, passing the ball wide to the full back who then scored under the posts. There was not much Lurgan could have done at that point, with only couple of minutes left on the clock, they kept their heads up and pressed on until the end.

The team was devastated, but not discouraged. They face Strabane on Saturday at Pollock Park, kick off at 2.30pm.