It was a glorious day for rugby on Saturday when Instonians and Banbridge clashed at Shaws Bridge and the teams on show did the conditions justice with a thrilling game of rugby that served up 72 points and 11 tries.

One of the current popular phrases in Irish rugby is that of “high risk rugby” and that is what we played on Saturday. When it comes off it can produce spectacular results, when it goes the other way it can go horribly wrong and so it proved on Saturday when Banbridge capitalised on our mistakes by scoring 21 points inside the first 15 minutes. Going 21 points down was bound to be a shock to the system but we regrouped and started to play “heads up rugby” rather than aforementioned “high risk rugby” and thanks to a marvellous forward effort we hit back with two tries of our own through Stephen Crothers. Banbridge hit back for their fourth try before Scrapper completed his hat trick as Instonians reduced the arrears to 26-17 at half time.

At half time we were happy that if we scored first after the break we’d be in a strong position. Michael McCafferty made it an incredible nine tries in three games for the club when he pounced on a clever grubber kick by Gavin Oakes to score under the posts. Keith Rosson then finished off a fine move which gave us the lead for the first time in the game, Keith then added a penalty which was soon followed by Gary Millar grabbing our final try to give us a comfortable fifteen point lead. Banbridge rallied at the end and scored their fifth try to leave the final score 41-31 to Instonians. Phew!!!!!!

On Thursday night we play Cooke at “home” in the league and two more points are vital if we are to keep our promotion hopes alive. Thanks to the referee for the game and especially to Banbridge for partaking in a magnificent game of rugby.

INSTONIANS 3rd XV vs Banbridge 3rd XV
15 GARY MILLAR
14 CHRIS FLEMING
13 CARIG FINLAY
12 CRAIG HOLMES
11 MICHAEL McCAFFERTY
10 KEITH ROSSON
9 GAVIN OAKES ©
1 STEPHEN CROTHERS
2 BENNY McCLURE
3 EAMON McCALLION
4 MARK GOLDSBROUGH
5 CHRIS GREGG
6 RICK McKIBBIN
7 JOHN BOGLE
8 ASHLEY STEWART

19th January 2008

Coleraine 3rd XV 5 - 62 Instonians 3rdXV

This was the 3rd XV's first match of 2008 and as the scoreline suggests it was a successful start to the new year. With a return of 7 wins from 9 games in the first half of the season, it was important to hit the ground running following a five week break and that is exactly what happened. To be honest, it is a difficult game for which to write a report. Obviously, we played very well with both the backs and forwards working together, in fact some of the tries scored were right out of the top drawer. We had complete superiority in the set piece and when necessary our forwards power was used to good measure in the maul. Andy Harper controlled things from out-half and, at times, our backs were involved in some sublime play. In fact, if I were being over critical, I could say that we were almost guilty of being too eager at times and with a bit more composure we may have wracked up a few more tries. In the end the game was ended 15 minutes early and we had ended up 5-62 winners. Finally I think it’s only right at this point to give a special mention to Chris Fleming who did his Jerry Collins impersonation on Saturday by playing blind side flanker. The right winger come No.6 even managed to score a try!

That’s now 8 wins out of 10 and we have City of Derry 2s at home on the 2nd February in what will be an altogether different game to the one against Coleraine. Thanks to the referee for officiating and thanks to Coleraine for the game.

INSTONIANS 3rd XV vs Coleraine 3rd XV
15 GARY MILLAR
14 MICHAEL McCAFFERTY
13 CHRIS MORGAN
12 KEITH ROSSON
11 GAVIN HARPER
10 ANDY HARPER
9 GAVIN OAKES ©
1 STEPHEN CROTHERS
2 ALAN STEWART
3 MICHAEL WORTHINGTON
4 MICHAEL POLLOCK
5 ALEX McCLEOD
6 CHRIS FLEMING
7 ANDY FIELD
8 ASHLEY STEWART

1st December 2007

Instonians 3rd XV 18-25 Armagh 2nd XV
Tries: A.Stewart 2, C.Morgan
Pens: K.Rosson

The great 3rd XV cup run of 2007 will not be repeated in 2008. It all came to a very premature end on Saturday with a disappointing 25-18 defeat at home to Junior 3 league leaders Armagh 2nds. Armagh started the game in blistering form, when you consider we took us a quarter of an hour to wake up it was bound to be a dangerous mix for us. Sparked largely by their scrum half Armagh found themselves 15-0 up within the first twenty minutes. We did have our chances in the first half but couldn’t capitalise on the possession and territory we had in the second quarter of the match.

Despite trailing 15-0 at half time we knew we had the elements in our favour in the second half and straight from the restart we managed to win a penalty which Keith Rosson converted, another two difficult penalty attempts went wide and time began to ebb away from us. The final period of the game was frenetic, first we managed to reduce the arrears with an Ashley Stewart try but Armagh replied almost immediately to take the score to 25-8, having already scored a penalty earlier in the half. In the last five minutes we dug in and began to play the kind of rugby of which we’re capable, first Ashley Stewart and then Chris Morgan scored tries to leave the final score at 25-18 to Armagh.

Last season we travelled to Armagh and put them out of the cup in the 1st round and this year the men from the Orchard County took their revenge one round earlier! Well done to Armagh whose performance belied the league they are in and it will be no surprise if they win Junior League 3 this season. Thanks also to the referee for his time and effort.

It’s disappointing to be out of the cup before Christmas but that is the luck of the draw. We now have the league to concentrate on and our goal very much remains promotion. We’re joint second with Limavady after eight games and it just so happens that two of our next three games are against them, starting this Saturday at Shaw’s Bridge. Training takes place on Wednesday night at 7pm as usual and this Saturday, 8th December, there will be a players night out for the whole club, so those not playing this weekend get down to the club to support the 1sts against Nenagh and of course the 3rds against Limavady and then enjoy the craic afterwards.

INSTONIANS 3rd XV vs Armagh 2nd XV
15 GARY MILLAR
14 CHRIS FLEMING
13 CHRIS MORGAN
12 JAMES COCHRANE
11 CONOR IRWIN
10 KEITH ROSSON
9 GAVIN OAKES ©

1 JON CARSER
2 GARETH TORNEY
3 ALAN WHITTEN
4 MARK GOLDSBROUGH
5 BRIAN WALLACE
6 GERRY O’LEARY
7 RICK McKIBBIN
8 ASHLEY STEWART

24th November 2007

Cooke 2ndXV 7 – 16 Instonians 3rdXV
Tries: C.Fleming
Con: K.Rosson
Pens: K.Rosson 3

After the disappointment of defeat to City of Derry last weekend, the boys were keen to bounce back with a win against Cooke on Saturday. Instonians versus Cooke games are often tight affairs and this was no different with the half time score saying all that needs to be said on the matter…0-0!

Fortunately, the second half was a bit livelier, Instonians opened the scoring with a Keith Rosson penalty, this is Keith’s second year on the thirds and it is noticeable how much more comfortable he feels at this level now, his goal kicking and tactical kicking were out of the top drawer on Saturday and played a big role in our victory. Keith was heavily involved in our only try of the day, with the majority of our backline lined up to go left, Keith changed his mind at the last moment switched play to the right; found full back Gary Millar who linked up with winger Chris Fleming; who stepping inside, scored what would prove to be the decisive score of the game. Keith converted the try and then added a second penalty to give Instonians a 13-0 lead going into the last ten minutes of the game.

However Cooke weren’t finished and a lapse in concentration in defence by the “visitors” let Cooke in for a deserved try, this was converted and it was 'game on' for the last few minutes. With time almost up, Inst were awarded a penalty which, given the angle, must have been somewhere in the region of 45 metres from the posts on the left hand side of the pitch. The distance and angle proved no obstacle for Keith as he took his tally to 11 points for the match and gave Instonians an unassailable nine point lead with a minute left to play. The victory was deserved and credit to the pack, the benefits of training were shown in the marked improvement in the lineout this week and John Carser deserves a special mention for his work around the park, even at 37 perhaps John should consider a move to the back row!

Thanks to the referee and of course to Cooke for the game and we look forward to the re-match in February. The cup starts in earnest this coming week with Armagh 2nds visiting Shaw's Bridge in the Preliminary Round of the Crawford Cup. All support from those not travelling to Naas will be greatly appreciated. After our famous (or should that be infamous) run to the semi finals last season we’re keen to go one step further this year. Training takes place as usual at 7pm on Wednesday night.

INSTONIANS 3rd XV vs Cooke 2nd XV
15 GARY MILLAR
14 CHRIS FLEMING
13 CHRIS MORGAN
12 JAMES COCHRANE
11 MARK O’GORMLEY
10 KEITH ROSSON
9 JONATHAN CONNOLLY

1 JON CARSER
2 BENNY McCLURE
3 DAVID BROWNRIGG
4 MARK GOLDSBROUGH
5 ALEX McCLEOD
6 JOHN MINNIS
7 GERRY O’LEARY
8 ASHLEY STEWART ©

17th November 2007

City of Derry 2nd XV 39 – 8 Instonians

INSTONIANS 3rd XV vs City of Derry 2nd XV
15 GARY MILLAR
14 CHRIS FLEMING
13 JAMES COCHRANE
12 CHRIS MORGAN
11 GAVIN HARPER
10 KEITH ROSSON
9 GAVIN OAKES ©

1 EAMON McCALLION
2 BENNY McCLURE
3 JOHN CARSER
4 MARK GOLDSBROUGH
5 JONATHAN KENNEDY
6 JOHN MINNIS
7 RICK McKIBBIN
8 ASHLEY STEWART

10th November 2007

BANBRIDGE 3ND XV 21 – 26 INSTONIANS 3RD XV
Tries: C.Morgan, G.Millar
Con: K.Rosson 2
Pen: K.Rosson 4

It is now five wins from the first six games for the 3rds after Saturday’s late win over a very strong Banbridge side at Rifle Park.

Despite a good start to the match, we were disappointed to only have three points to show for our early pressure on the Banbridge line, in fact, during this period of pressure we were held up as many as four and possibly times over the try line. Sod’s law being what it is, it was almost inevitable that less than two minutes after Banbridge restarted following our penalty, that the home side crossed our line following a break by their scrum half! Banbridge took their opportunities and deserved to hold a ten point lead ten minutes into the second half. Nevertheless, we deserve credit for remaining resilient and a series of Keith Rosson penalties ate into Bann’s advantage before a magnificent solo try by centre Chris Morgan put us in front for the first time since the opening minutes of the game. However, Banbridge were not finished and regained the lead with a try in the left hand corner. Crucially, the conversion was missed which left the score at 21-19 to the home side with less than fifteen minutes to play. Fortunately, we didn’t panic and sustained Instonian pressure on the Banbridge “22” followed and with five minutes left to play Gary Millar crossed in the corner to score what was to be the winning try. Keith landed the conversion which gave us the breathing space of a 5 point lead. In the dying minutes what seemed like a try scoring break by the Banbridge out half was called back for offside and eventually the game came to an end and Instonians had won a hard fought game.

This coming weekend sees a crunch match away to City of Derry, the maiden city side are unbeaten as of last weekend and this will be a real test of where we stand this season. Training as usual on Wednesday night.

INSTONIANS 3rd XV vs Banbridge 2nd XV

15 GARY MILLAR
14 CHRIS FLEMING
13 CHRIS MORGAN
12 MARK O’GORMLEY
11 BRIAN WALLACE
10 KEITH ROSSON
9 GAVIN OAKES ©

1 STEPHEN McMULLAN
2 STEPHEN MILLAR
3 JOHN CARSER
4 MARK GOLDSBROUGH
5 CHRIS SWEENEY
6 JOHN MINNIS
7 RICK McKIBBIN
8 RYAN McBRIDE

27th October 2007

BANGOR 2ND XV 12 – 17 INSTONIANS 3RD XV

Tries: R.McKibbin, J.Minnis, C.Holmes
Con: K.Rosson

Coming into this game Bangor were sitting second in Junior League Section Two so we were under no illusions that this would be a very difficult game and so it proved.

We started well playing with the wind behind our backs, we used our superiority in the pack and the set piece to our advantage and it was no coincidence that our two first half tries came from forwards, Rick McKibbin and John Minnis. Despite being 12-0 ahead at the break we knew that Bangor would try to play the game in our 22 with a significant wind behind them. Bangor scored an early try in the second half, however credit to the boys we responded quickly after some slick handling around the fringes before the ball was finally spread wide for wing Craig Holmes to score in the corner. With twenty minutes to play we led 17-5. The remainder of the game was played in our half, our defence was excellent and it had to be, however every time we managed to get up towards the Bangor half we contrived to give away a penalty and before long we were back defending an opposition lineout 5 or 10 metres from our line. Nevertheless our defensive line-outs were working as well as could be hoped and Bangor were unable to capitalise upon their field position. Ten minutes before the end the Bangor scrum half broke to score a superb individual try under the posts and with the score at 17-12. The game was on a knife edge, however notwithstanding a moment of brilliance from a Bangor player we were confident that our defence would hold and so it proved. This wasn’t much of a game for the backs, however full back Gary Millar deserves praise for an excellent defensive display and in the pack Chris Sweeney put in one of the performances of the season so far both in attack and defence.

After two big wins in the previous league games we have played, this victory was by far the most satisfying of the season so far and casting my mind back to the last campaign I can’t help but feel we would have lost this a year ago. We now have three wins from four in the league but the big games continue to come thick and fast with visits to Ballymena, Banbridge and league leaders City of Derry to come in the next three weeks, before we finish November off with a tasty fixture with Cooke! November will determine how our season will go.

Thanks to Bangor for an exciting game and to the referee and his Touch Judges as well. Training is as usual on Wednesday night, everybody is welcome and we encourage as many to come down as possible as the results prove it has been worthwhile for the Junior club this season.