ARMAGH 20 SLIGO 14
Having lost two of the recent three games played against neighbouring Banbridge Armagh were keen to make amends and score some league points from this fixture especially when the home venue gave them a slight edge.
It was at Strandhill last season that Sligo narrowly beat Armagh in the All Ireland Junior Cup. The Armagh team were still smarting from this result and there was a certain resolution to secure a victory from this game.
The playing conditions on the Palace Grounds were ideal for the Armagh open, passing game. Sligo kicked off into a stiffish breeze and it was obvious from the first scrum that there had been a lot of time spent reinforcing Armagh’s scrummaging on the training pitch since their encounter with Banbridge last Saturday.
With only three minutes play on the clock Armagh spun the ball across to the right wing where Andrew Willis rounded the Sligo defence and touched down in the corner. Richard Reaney kicked a tricky conversion to put the score to 7-0. Only two minutes later Rainey burst through the centre and scored a fine try under the Sligo posts. Again he converted to raise the score to 14-0. What with only five minutes played and two converted tries on the board Armagh supporters considered a bonus point was a certainty. Both sides continued to play some very fine rugby and Armagh continued to keep pressurising the visitors until they were penalised for not releasing the ball after a tackle near their posts. Again Reaney kicked the points and before the half time break he repeated this to bring the score to 20-0. Just before the break the referee ‘yellow carded’ Armagh’s loose head prop for breaking his bind in a scrum.
Following the break the wind dropped and Sligo, despite being twenty points behind, played with fantastic resolution. Indeed twenty minutes into the half saw their centre storm through the home defence and score a beautiful try under the Armagh posts. This was converted and to add to Armagh’s troubles Sligo’s out half scored at the posts and then converted. Suddenly the 20-14 looked ominous and any thoughts of a bonus point evaporated from the Armagh team. Indeed, the last ten minutes of the game saw Sligo pressing the home forwards in all quarters of the game!
The final whistle could not come soon enough for the home supporters and the relief on the home team’s faces was obvious.
Sligo went home with a losing bonus point and with a degree of disappointment Armagh, on the other hand were glad to chalk up four league points.
Next week sees Armagh travel away to the far west of Ireland where they play Connemara in Clifden. Although Saturday’s victory was narrow the team will have secured some confidence and are able to see progress.
Randalstown 2 XV (00) vs Armagh 3 XV (35)
Armagh thirds made up for last week’s disappointing loss to league leaders Ballymoney, when they travelled and defeated Randalstown on Saturday leapfrogging the hosts to second place in the league.
Armagh started slowly and made several handling errors. They attacked the opposition line and played most of the first half in the Randalstown 22. A dogged opposition pack and strong defence kept them at bay. Armagh didn’t take full advantage of the strong breeze at their backs and their only scores in the first half came from a Simon Cuttle penalty and tries from number 8 Christopher Wallace and Lock Paul Cully. Although having a ‘stormer’ in attack and defence, full back Timmy McNeice was having an off day with the boot. Unfortunately just before the ‘half’, Randalstown were reduced to 14 men as they lost their number 8 with a nasty looking shoulder injury. Armagh lead 13-0 at half time.
Armagh changed their tactics at half time and played a tighter, more controlled game to start the second half. They were met by a strong, enthusiastic defence as Randalstown came out all guns blazing with the wind at their backs. Armagh cut down the number of mistakes and were rewarded for their possession when Jason McMahon crashed through from 10 metres to score his first try of the season. McNeice again missed the conversion. Armagh continued to press, taking advantage and were further rewarded when Stan Hamilton fooled the defence and breezed in the corner. This left Armagh 23 – 0 ahead. Randalstown, with the referees assistance, and their ‘never say die attitude’ attacked but Armagh’s defence held firm and a break away try from Wallace put the game out of their grasp. Armagh however saved the best for last when Cuttle cut through two tackles and a gap to score under the posts. He converted his own try to leave a final score of 35 – 0 to Armagh.
It was a resolute performance by a young Armagh side who picked themselves up after last week and are improving every week. Although he didn’t have his kicking boots with him, Timmy McNeice was outstanding, while Chistopher Wallace and Jonny Craig had some good carries.
