Limavady made the short trip over the Baranailt Road to play Claudy Utd on what was the first wet and miserable day of the season. The poor weather often creates a great environment for football to be played and it was the rugby club men who came home the victors.
In a much tighter game than the full time scoreline suggested it came down to which team took their chances. LRFC welcomed club captain Peter Irwin back into the fold following injury and he put in an inspired performance in an unfamiliar anchorman role between the defence and the midfield.
Claudy started well but created little by the way of clear cut chances. And it was the roesiders who made them pay with Fergal Hartin rising unchallenged to head home Steven Young’s corner.
Claudy deservedly equalised as the first half came to a close with 1-1 the half time score.
The second half started very much as the first half had proceeded with very little between the two sides. But as the home side pressed further into the Limavady half looking for a breakthrough the Limavady forward line were able to hit them on the counter attack and this is exactly how the second LRFC goal came about. The ball broke down the right wing and flying winger James Smyth left his counterpart for dead and crossed for Trevor Banks to score easily.
James Smyth then got on the scoresheet himself with following a poor back pass from a Claudy defender left their keeper in no mans land with Smyth intercepting the ball and tucking into the empty net from well outside the box. This goal seemed to rattle the Claudy players and Limavady could have scored alot more in the final few minutes.
LRFC scored their final goal of the game when Steven Young stood over a free kick and blasted off the back of Blane McIlmoyle for a huge deflection to take it past the helpless Claudy keeper.
Limavady Rugby FC Starting XI:
GK: Seamy McAteer
RB: Joshua Craig
LB: Tyler Sproule
CB: Fergal Hartin
CB: Blane McIlmoyle
CM: Peter Irwin
CM: Steven Young
CM: Bobby Gordon
RF: James Smyth
LF: Jonny Cottle
CF: Trevor Banks
Goalscorers: Fergal Hartin, Trevor Banks, James Smyth, Blane McIlmoyle
Assists: Steven Young x 2, James Smyth
LRFC Man of the Match: Trevor Banks
