Civil Service no match for gutsy Armoy1st XV
By neil porterfield, 22nd Dec 2013
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Armoy 1st XV got into the Christmas spirit with a hard fought but in the end comfortable win against Civil Service 1st XV at Lime Park.
On a bitterly cold and blustery afternoon it was the home side that dictated the run of play for long phases of the first half. The Armoy pack were dominant in the scrum and were also taking service ball at the lineout. It was through a prolonged phase of forward pressure that Armoy were to open their account for the afternoon. The beefy pack rumbled their way into the Civil Service 22 and from 5 meters out it was loosehead prop Alan Dempster who showed great strength to crash through the Service defence and over for a score by the posts. Converted by Eoin O’Connor.
It was unfortunate that all the good work that lead to the score was undone almost immediately as Service put pressure on Armoy from the kick off leading to a penalty 10 meters from the Armoy line. As had been the pattern Service tapped the ball and fed it to 1 of their tight forwards. Their pick second row was easily able to crash over for a converted try due to some very slack tackling.
However this set back seemed to spur the home team onwards and once again they played long spells inside their opponents half. They eventually wore the visitors down and some good running by the backs saw centre John Wallace run a good line that deceived the service backs. Despite a scrambled attempt to stop him Wallace was too quick and crossed the whitewash for Armoy’s second try of the Afternoon.(unconverted).
Armoy were back in the box seat and showed no signs of relinquishing this lead. There positive play was rewarded when service indiscipline lead to 2 penalties before half time which were slotted over by John Wallace, one of which was from 40 meters out.
Half time Armoy 1stXV 18 Civil Sevice 1st XV 7.
The second half started with Armoy again asserting themselves in an effort to extend their lead. Again the backs and forwards were making head way into their opponents half and when the opportunities arose they were quick to exploit them. Service were keen to get back in the match but their eagerness was to cost them dear as infringements at the ruck lead them to concede penalties on 2 occasions which were cooly slotted over by Wallace. Armoy now had a 17 point lead going into the closing stages but were in no mood to relinquish this lead. Service were desperate to close the gap but their efforts were fruitless as the men from Lime Park held firm and rebutted all that the was thrown at them. It was from a spell of service pressure that Armoy got their final score of the game. With Armoy in possession inside their own half Captain Mickey McGaughey picked the ball from the base of the ruck and ran for the Service line, bulldozing his was from the half way line to the service 22. More rucks ensued and the ball was passed out to the backs who got to within 5 meters from the Service goal line. From this ruck the ball was popped up to the waiting winger Steven Bellingham but the ball never got to as loosehead Alan Dempster nipped in in front of him and over for his second score of the day. (converted by John Wallace.
Final Score Armoy 1st XV 31 Civil Service 1st XV 7
