Friends School Lisburn hosted Dromore High School on Saturday morning with the home team taking a 22 – 0 victory in what was a tight and physical game.

The games first try didn’t come until late on in the first half, after a sluggish start with both sides committing a number of handling errors.

It was Friends’ who struck first. The ball was moved across the backline  winger Fergie McEwen who dotted down in the corner. Centre Rhys Malone failed to add the extras and Friends took a 5 – 0 lead into half time.

Friends started the second half in good fashion scoring another try thanks to some clever play from number 8 Max Gillespie who saw some space to the narrow side of a ruck and went himself, beating the remaining defenders, to score in the corner to stretch his sides lead. A tricky conversion from the sideline was just pulled wide meaning Friends had a 10-0 lead.

Dromore got some momentum going and worked their way up the field shortly after conceding the try and played some brilliant rugby but Friends did very well to hold out half, Xander Lowham, up after he darted for the line to win a crucial turnover.

Friends then stretched their advantage further after a poor clearance kick from Dromore bounced into the arms of try scorer McEwen who broke through the Dromore defence to score his second of the match. The conversion was successful making the score 17 – 0.

As the game was coming to a close, Friends got themselves another try. A great scrum from the Friends pack forced the turnover and quick hands from the backs allowed out half Joe Anderson to score in the corner to wrap up the game. The conversion was missed meaning the final score was 22-0 to Friends

Report and photo credit – Samuel Stevenson Photography

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