We caught up with the Chester Cup match between Larne and Randalstown at The Glynn on a pleasant Saturday afternoon.
Larne were keen to pick up a win after a difficult season last season and they were quick off the mark with an early try from Eddie Hunter who made the most off an out the back pass from Ryan McAlister to put Larne in front after 2 minutes. Captain Aaron McBride knocked over the conversion in windy conditions to give Larne a 7 – 0 lead.
McBride added a penalty 5 minutes later to push the score out to 10 – 0 as Larne looked to make the most of the strong wind at their backs.
However Randalstown tightened up their defence and worked their way upfield but they were unable to break down the Larne defence and a couple of kicks saw Larne back in the Randalstown 22 for McAlister go over for a simple try, off the back of a lineout, to push the score out to 15 – 0 at the half hour mark.
The wind looked to be worth around 15 points but Larne gave themselves a bit of wriggle room with McBride adding his second penalty, shortly after, to push the score out to 18 – 0 as the teams changed ends.
An early try from Randalstown’s Dean McCrory, to take the score to 18 – 5, looked ominous at the start of the second half but Larne dug in well and were able to pick up another three points off the boot of McBride to take the score to 21 – 5 midway through the second half.
McBride looked to keep the scoreboard ticking over for Larne and the elements worked in his favour as a sliced drop kick was kept in by the wind for Jacob Swan to react quickest and pick up the deciding try which took the score to 26 – 5.
Randalstown got some reward for their efforts with a well worked try finished off by Conor Murray and converted by Eoin Letters, but it was too late for Larne to panic and they held on for a deserved 26 – 12 win to reclaim the Chester Cup.
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