IT was a day of disappointment for YMCA and their supporters at Greenisland last Saturday, when the Drumahoe team lost their opportunity of clinching promotion to Qualifying League One.
However all is not lost, as CIYMS have to defeat Donaghadee next Saturday to gain a play off with YMCA, to see who moves into the top League.
At one stage on Saturday CIYMS were level 23-23 with Larne with only minutes remaining, which would have meant YMCA would have been promoted home, but a late penalty kept the Belmont Road team alive.
In perfect playing conditions, the home team played with the slight slope, but it was the visitors who had the early pressure, with winger Chris Caldwell tackled in side the home 22, and a drop goal from out half Darrell Braiden sailing just wide.
After a pick up from a scrum by player coach Keith Gallick, High School were penalized at the breakdown, and Braiden goaled from outside the 22 in the 12th minute.
Two minutes later High School prop Peter Taylor had to be stretchered off with a leg injury, which meant that the scrums became non contested.
With a player down in the pack the home team started to dominate, and were much quicker to the breakdowns, forcing YMCA to conceded a lot of penalties in this area.
In the final ten minutes of the half YMCA were under severe pressure but strong defence held them out, but with five minutes of injury time played High School out half David Mayne took from a scrum on the YM 22.
He then looped round with centre Jonny Murphy to run in at the posts, converting his own score for a half time lead of 7-3.
The home team who had to win to maintain their Qualifying Two status, started strongly and extended their lead ion 50 minutes.
Scrum half Jonny Maine took bad ball from a line out on the YM 22, and left the visitors defence in his wake, as he raced in under the posts unopposed, with brother David converting.
YM came back into the game, with their backs and forwards driving strongly, but found the High School defence very secure, especially at the tackle situation.
With 12 minutes remaining a long range penalty from David Mayne hit the post, and when YM attempted to clear they kicked the ball straight into the arms of winger Neil Hastings, who held on to dive over in the corner to complete the scoring, and keep his team's Qualifying Two status.
YMCA will now have to wait on the outcome of the CIYMS- Donaghadee game to see if they are promoted, or face a play off.