Saturday saw Armagh open their season by hosting Ards in their first game of the Ulster League. There was always going to be a certain degree of apprehension hanging bout the Palace Grounds since this was the first game to be played since being promoted into the senior league. The last time these two teams met was in the 1997-98 season in The All-Ireland League when the Ards side put 40 odd points on the board against the Armagh team. Since then Armagh suffered relegation not once but twice and were then were forced to spend two seasons down in the Ulster Qualifying Two League before re-grouping and starting the long climb back up the tables!
The current Armagh club strategy and management has changed a great deal from those dark days and the moral throughout all the club teams has responded positively to the challenge over the past ten seasons.
Wednesday’s game ably illustrated this transformation, when a Portadown/Armagh select fifteen defeated a French side from Orleans by 40 odd points. This reassured the coaching staff that there was now a positive attitude and a hunger in Armagh teams which was lacking in previous seasons.
Saturday’s games were arranged with the second’s kick-off arranged for 1-00pm and the main match kicking-off at 2-30pm. The Armagh seconds chalked up a convincing 40-3 victory!
The playing conditions for the first fifteen’s game were unusual to say the least! At the kick-off there was brilliant sunshine but within a couple of minutes, a torrential downpour sent the spectators scurrying for shelter.
CLICK HERE FOR 10 PICTURES
By half time, the score was 21-6 and the home side were well on top. At full-time the home side had put in seven tries from Matty Irwin (3) Andrew Willis (2) Colin Atkinson & Richard Reaney. The Ards points came from two penalties and a converted penalty try. The Armagh man of the match Matthew Steenson kicked the remaining 12 points.
Overall, the three matches had rendered 120 points for Armagh with 23 points against! The unique brand of Armagh rugby was at last showing results granted there will be much harder opposition to be encountered as the season progresses but the Palace Grounds is open for business!
