Sat 1 Oct 2022, 15:00
Crackers goes in for the opener
IIt was a really tight affair at the Mooragh Park with Ramsey just clinching the points in a 24-19 victory after the game was tied 5-5 at half time.
Ramsey started at a million miles an hour and were soon into the Nomads twenty two. From a five metre scrum Conor Goodall trucked the ball into contact. It was recycled quickly and a pop pass from scrum half Nathan Robson found a charging Conor Cracknell and he smashed through the defence to score.
While Ramsey enjoyed the better of the territory, there was no way through the Nomads defence and just before the twenty minute mark the visitors struck back. A midfield penalty allowed Sean Christian to kick deep into the Ramsey half. From the line out Orry Watterson crashed into the Ramsey midfield and tied up three defenders. Quick ruck ball followed and Tony Quinn strolled over wide on the right to score.
The remainder of the first half ended in stalemate. Ramsey crossed the Nomads line three times and were held up three times and just before the half time whistle Tony Quinn got clear on the right but didn’t quite have the pace to beat Ramsey’s two quickest men Brandon Atichison and Danny Howard who chased him down and covered the threat. When referee Daryl Richards finally blew for the break the game was tied at 5-5.
Ramsey scored twice in the opening twelve minutes of the second half. Wing Ivo Morrey bagged the first just two minutes in. He found himself on the end of some quick midfield hands and raced in down the seaside touchline to score. Brandon Atchison added the conversion for a 12-5 lead. Rory Nicholson grabbed the second after Ramsey turned Nomads over on their own five metre scrum. Skipper Matt Meechan launched from the base of the scrum but was stopped just shy of the line. From the ruck Nicholson picked and drove over to score and leave Ramsey 17-5 in front.
Nomads captain George Callister then rallied his troops and they were back in touch within five minutes. The green forwards ground their way upfield and earned a series of penalties in the Ramsey twenty two. The final of these was tapped quickly and Callister offloaded from a tackle and found Finn McGregor who finished off. Sean Christian’s conversion made it 17-12.
The resurgence didn’t last long. From the restart Nomads found themselves under the cosh in their own red zone. Ramsey strayed offside though and gave Nomads a pressure relieving penalty. The kick didn’t make touch though. Nathan Robson fielded it on the line for Ramsey and his immediate pop pass found Captain Meechan charging at full pace. He burst through two tackles and carried three men over the line with him as he scored. Atchison converted and the game entered its final quarter with Ramsey 24-12 in front.
With just over ten to play, Nomads bagged a try which put the Ramsey nerves on edge. Ramsey were attacking inside the Nomads half and a pass intended for Jake Richmond went astray. Nomads’ Will Taisia hoofed the loose ball downfield and set off in chase. As he caught up with the ball it bounced up into his hands and he took it without breaking stride to score under posts. Sean Christian converted to leave the score at 24-19.
Despite the closeness of the game, Ramsey were able to keep possession for most of the remaining ten minutes to close out the game.
