‘Skins 2nds managed to topple the league leaders with a display that apart from a five minute spell late in the game was very impressive.
It was the visitors who struck with an early penalty to take a three point lead but this was soon cancelled out when Felix Quigley went over wide out to score the home side’s first of four tries. Skipper Daniel Allister added the conversion with a great kick to give ‘Skins a 7 – 3 lead.
The game was a fairly even affair until ‘Skins broke it wide open after twenty-five minutes with a try from centre Paul Burns. Patient play lead to the opportunity when Burns spotted a hole in the visitors defence and powered his way through to sprint home from distance and score under the posts, giving Allister a simple conversion to extend the lead to 14 – 3.
‘Skins were enjoying good territorial advantage and shortly after put together a string of rucks close to the Armagh line, but the visitors defence managed to hold out. Then the game threatened to swing away from ‘Skins when the ball was spilled in midfield, but excellent defensive work from flanker Eddie Roofe held Armagh at bay, as he managed to shadow four attackers as they went lateral across the field. Then to compound matters the visitors decided to opt for a cross-field kick to the wing to find that their only player in close proximity was the tight-head prop!
Armagh had been guilty of wasting a few penalty opportunities in the first half by trying to gain too much ground and ‘Skins defended comfortably to see the half out.
The game was emphatically nudged ‘Skins way in a two minute spell early in the second half, when firstly Armagh lost the outhalf to injury and then had a player sin-binned for a deliberate late tackle on ‘Skins winger, Ally Duncan, following which Allister added a penalty.
‘Skins then scored two tries in the next ten minutes to take the game beyond Armagh. Firstly the visitors made a mess of their own lineout and when the ball fell kindly to Quigley, he beat one man and raced clear to score from thirty metres, showing a turn of pace many were surprised to see.
Five minutes later and with ‘Skins in their own half some quick handling and support play saw the ball moved cleanly to Gareth Donaldson who raced clear from fully sixty metres to score a great try. This time Allister was successful with the kick and the lead seemed an unassailable 29 – 3.
However, ‘Skins were then guilty of taking the foot off the pedal and they allowed Armagh too much time and space to move the ball and with eight minutes remaining a series of penalties allowed the visitors to march close to the line where they managed to score. Whilst the conversion attempt was badly missed three minuets later another try followed, or was it? Again a series of penalties kept giving Armagh good position and after a number of phases they crossed the line, but to the outrage of those supporters behind the goal-line it seemed that the ball had been lost before being grounded. The score stood however with the lead reduced to 29 – 13.
‘Skins did regroup for the final five minutes and held on for an encouraging victory with a display to be proud of. The young squad has been developing well of late and it is no coincidence that this reflects the improved turnout at training and the competition that is developing for places. Richard Ogle came into the side and had a great game at hooker and indeed the front row of Quigley, Ogle and Darren Watson excelled. Roofe again showed his talent and appetite for work as he probably covered every blade of grass on the Mullaghmeen turf. In the backline it was good to see Michael Law return to action after a three month lay-off due to injury, and speedy wingers Duncan and Donaldson were hungry for the ball. But it was skipper Daniel Allister who probably deserves most of the plaudits with a controlling display from outhalf. He marshalled his troops well and seemed to be on top of his game with sound decisions and as a captain has built a good team spirit, which will be needed as the league table shows that ‘Skins are far from safe from relegation with most teams managing to beat each other. To survive ‘Skins need to continue the hard work on the training paddock and with such a good young squad at both 1st and 2nd XV level, competition for places should be what drives everyone forward.
Fixtures
1st XV – Home – Donaghadee
2nd XV – Home – Carrick
Mini-Rugby – Away – Omagh
