Defence and attack combine perfectly for Down High

Defence and attack combine perfectly for Down High

14 December 2011

DOWN High notched up another impressive performance with a 21-10  win against Sullivan on Saturday.

This was a very competent performance by the home team who, despite being under pressure for significant periods of the game, displayed great patience and control to build a match winning lead. 

Sullivan kicked off playing with a slight wind and from their first attack took an early 3-0 lead when Down High were penalised in front of the posts.

Down High regained possession from the restart and threatened the Sullivan line but the final pass was spilled out wide and Sullivan cleared their lines.

With 11 minutes gone Down High won a five-metre scrum and moved the ball smartly to the right, creating space for Jamie Thompson to score in the corner and give the home side a 5-3 lead.

The lead was short-lived and when Down High were robbed of possession Sullivan exposed weak midfield defence to cut through for a try under the posts. The conversion was added giving the visitors a 10-5 advantage.

Sullivan continued to attack but the Down High defence soaked up the pressure and as half time approached Down High were awarded a penalty to the right of the posts, Justin Rea landed the kick to leave the half time score 10-8 in favour of the visitors.

The second half began with Sullivan once again slightly on top, but the Down High defence remained solid and when Sullivan tried to move the ball wide Luca Rea intercepted a flat pass and ran in from 40 metres to score under the posts. Justin Rea added the conversion to give Down High a 15-10 lead.

Sullivan tried to work their way back into the match but they became more and more frustrated by the aggressive Down High defence with Tommy McConnell and Ben Hale landing some big hits.

With 55 minutes gone Down High moved further into the lead when Sullivan were penalised following a Kelvin Hamilton trademark barging run and Justin Rea landed the 35-metre kick.

The growing maturity of the Down High performance was clear when from the restart they regained possession and concentrated on retaining the ball and keeping Sullivan pinned inside their own half.

From a line-out on the Sullivan five-metre line the Down High forwards worked a catch-and-drive move which resulted in Sullivan being penalised at the ruck, Justin Rea landed the kick to increase the lead to 21-10 with five minutes remaining.

Sullivan launched an all-out attack in the closing minutes and despite having Luca Rea sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, the Down High defence closed the match out for what, in the end, was a confident, well constructed victory.

Sullivan Upper 1st XV 10

Down High 1st XV 21

SCHOOLS RUGBY