Rugby Returns To The Palace Grounds: Armagh/Portadown Select XV v Orleans Rugby XV

‘winning together’

Wednesday evening saw the 2011-12 season kick-off with a bang as a combined Armagh/Portadown select fifteen team entertained an Orleans side.
This game was arranged to carry on a 34 year old fixture tradition arranged by Portadown. The French side was made up from four local clubs in the Orleans area.
As the game kicked-off in beautiful conditions the local side stamped their authority on the game by scoring a fine try when the home centre touched down under the posts after only two minutes of play.
This pattern of play was repeated throughout the full eighty minutes with the home side scoring six tries to the visitors one!
Some fine, open rugby was seen from both sides, however, and the large crowd went home well entertained. The final score of 47-7 was a little irrelevant as both teams enjoyed the chance to ‘open the taps’ and get the season under way.