Saturday 27th March. Report by Andrew Smallwoods.
Enniskillen slumped to defeat in their final match of the 2009/10 season and now must face up to the real possibility of relegation, as bottom side Coleraine upset the odds to win at Dromore and are now only two points adrift, with two games left to play.
The game started brightly and ‘Skins were on the scoreboard after just three minutes. A nice break by Saul Shanahan gave Ally Duncan space and his chip ahead rolled into touch a few yards short of the line. Limavady didn’t control the ball in the lineout and Gary Hall was on hand to touch the ball down for the try, with Shanahan adding the conversion for a perfect start.
‘Skins then let Limavady back into the game as the visitors kept control of the ball and on eleven minutes secured their opening points through a penalty.
Worse was to follow for ‘Skins as Limavady took the lead after twenty-seven minutes. A forward pass gave the visitors possession and from a steady scrum the ball was fed back inside to the second row who had an uninterrupted twenty yard run before offloading for a simple try under the posts. The conversion was successful and the visitors lead 10 – 7.
The sides then traded penalties in the final ten minutes of the half, Shanahan again successful for ‘Skins, to leave the halftime score at 13 – 10 to the visitors.
The second half proved to be a rather flat affair, and the writing was on the wall for ‘Skins as they failed to muster much attacking opportunities with very little quality ball. The lineout has been a particular achilles heel for the side most of the season and the inability to win even their own ball again cost the side dear on this occasion.
Limavady secured the win after thirty-four minutes with a try following a lengthy period of pressure on ‘Skins line.
It is the end of a difficult season for ‘Skins, one that has seen many lows, with precious few highs. Everyone can now only wait and see what happens and where they will be playing rugby next season.
