Armagh’s Cormac Fox accepts the Man of the Match award from tournament committee member Allan Jardine following Armagh’s victory over Enniskillen in the third match of the first group stage of the Nutty Krust U18 Floodlit Rugby Tournament 2017.
Nutty Krust Tournament Enniskillen U18’s v Armagh U18’s 15th February 2017
The third of this season’s First Round group stage games in the Nutty Krust U18 Tournament took place under the floodlights at a damp Chambers Park when Enniskillen U18’s and Armagh U18’s played on Wednesday evening. The Armagh U18 team recorded a sizeable 60-0 victory having been 38-0 up at the break. A sizeable crowd had gathered to watch an entertaining game which featured quite a few talented players on both teams. Among the group watching the game was Jonny Gillespie, the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Manager.
The very strong Armagh team started well against the much younger, inexperienced but nonetheless committed, Enniskillen team. Three minutes into the game the Armagh team set the tone for their performance when Cormac Fox ran a great line to touch down for an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead. Enniskillen responded and good work from players such as Davy Kelly, David Patton and Jack McKee brought them close on a number of occasions to the Armagh line. They forced Armagh into conceding a number of penalties but the Fermanagh men turned down kicks and opted to play with the ball in hand. However, the Armagh defence was up to the task and a turnover at a crucial time cleared the danger. Thirteen minutes into the game Cormac Fox, working in tandem with Dylan McKervey and Paul Mullen, sent Paul in for a try. Cormac added the extras to put his team into a 12-0 lead. Three minutes later the Enniskillen team won a defensive lineout and ran the ball out of defence. An unfortunate loose pass was intercepted by Evan Crummie who finished with a try in the corner. Cormac Fox converted the try to increase the Armagh lead to 19-0. Two minutes later another Armagh attack was finished off by John Mallon who touched down for an unconverted try to give the Armagh team a 24-0 lead. The Enniskillen team rallied with a great run from Tyler Millar who beat several Armagh defenders but was stopped just short of the try line. The Armagh team then launched an attack with Cormac Fox putting Michael Savage into space. Michael then found Adam McGowan with a clever pass and Adam finished with a try. Cormac converted the try to put his Armagh team into a 31-0 lead. Just before the break Aaron Clarke took play deep into Armagh territory with a great break out of defence. Unfortunately for the Enniskillen team a player straying off side at the breakdown enabled the Armagh team to clear the danger. From the resultant lineout great use of the ball by the Armagh backline enabled Michael Savage to run in for a try. Cormac Fox was successful with the conversion to see his Armagh team into a 38-0 lead at the interval.
Armagh continued their dominance of the game in the second half. Shortly after the restart Aaron Kennedy and Barry Finn carried strongly before Paul Mullan blasted over the whitewash to score a try. Cormac Fox was successful with conversion to increase the Armagh lead to 45-0. Three quick unconverted tries from Niall McKee, Adam McGowan and Joel Scott secured the 60-0 bonus point win for the Armagh U18 team at the end of this very fast game.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Jim Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Scrummies” kitchen and organised by the ever present Sid Rowe. All players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Allan Jardine then presented the impressive Armagh No 10, Cormac Fox, with the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post match ceremony.
With the unfortunate withdrawal of Banbridge U18’s from the Nutty Krust Tournament Portadown U18’s have been asked to take on the fixtures left vacant by the Banbridge withdrawal. The Portadown team will now play Ballynahinch U18’s and Rainey U18’s in the Group 2 games in the Nutty Krust Tournament.
In that group Rainey U18’s are scheduled to play Ballynahinch U18’s on Wednesday 1st March and Portadown U18’s will play Ballynahinch U18’s on Wednesday 22nd March. The Rainey U18’s v Portadown U18’s game will be played on Wednesday 5th April.
The first of the Second Round group stage games in the 2017 Nutty Krust Tournament will feature Ballymena U18’s v Malone U18’s at 7-45 pm on Wednesday 22nd February. All supporters will be made to feel very welcome.
