Malone rugby Club I XV 34 v ARMAGH Rugby Club I XV23
Following their narrow defeat against Ballymena on Wednesday evening, Armagh travelled to Gibson Park on Saturday to play their first away fixture in the Ulster League. Armagh, having won only one of their Ulster League fixtures were, nevertheless, confident of putting on a creditable performance. The last time our side faced famous rugby names like Ballymena, Instonians and even Ards in the late nineties they were consistently suffering defeats of 60+ points or even worse!
Prior to the kick off both teams observed a minute’s silence in respect for the four miners who lost their lives in the recent Welsh pit disaster.
The game kicked off with a stiffish breeze at the backs of the Malone side. After only three minutes play the home right-winger, Irvine, scored when the Armagh failed to respond to a rampant set of Malone backs. This was converted to put the first points on the board at 7-0. Malone were penalized for straying off-side and James McBriar brought the score back to 3-7. The gap was widened again when the Malone backs scythed through a lacklustre defence to let a Malone centre score under the Armagh posts.
The conversion brought the score to 14-3. The Armagh position appeared all the more difficult when, two minutes later, Armagh’s Colin Atkinson was sin-binned for hands in a ruck. To add to the plight Malone’s out-half scored under the posts and later converted to put the scoreline at 21-3. Suddenly the score took on an ominous tone. Were we staring a 60+ point’s defeat in the face similar to that of the old days? This nightmare must have figured large in the team talk of coach Andy Hughes during his half-time team talk.
Certainly, the Armagh team kicked of into the second half with a renewed vigour but this was halted, temporarily, when they were penalized for over exuberance in the first ruck of the half. Another three points did not really dent the Armagh pride but a 24-3 score line made a very steep hill to climb indeed.
Steep indeed it was but the Armagh side is made of stern stuff and a storming run from young flanker, Riddell, sent the ball across the team to winger, Irwin, who touched down in the left corner. The breeze carried the conversion wide but from the restart the Armagh full-back, Steenson, battered his way through to touch down just left of the posts. Again the conversion went wide but suddenly Armagh were in contention with the score line at 24-13. Despite a Malone penalty adding a further 3 points on to the board, the visitors were in contention. This was confirmed when James McBriar sold a beautiful dummy to his opposite number and forced his way over for a try under the posts which he converted to narrow the score to 27-20. Could Armagh continue with this resurgent form? A penalty against Malone for not releasing closed the gap even more to 27-23. Now a losing bonus point looked a possibility at worst if the form could be maintained.
This dream was short-lived, however, when the Malone flanker, Chapman, burst through a tiring defence and scored at the posts. The conversion widened the score to 34-23. The dream worsened to a nightmare when the visitors were penalised for straying off side just before the final whistle. The Malone out half landing the kick to end the game at 37-23.
This result now puts Armagh on an even points tally with their neighbours, Banbridge. Both teams have played 4 won 1 lost 3. Banbridge having a better point’s difference of +27 to Armagh’s –8. This all makes next Saturday’s fixture when Armagh travel away to Banbridge the more interesting. Local derbys such as this seldom fail to provide spectacular rugby.
II XV Storm To Victory @ Malone
Armagh seconds travelled to Gibson park to play Malone 2s in the Ulster 2nd xv league on Saturday past. Playing into the stiff breeze and receiving the ball from the kick off, an Armagh forward infringed at the ensuing ruck. By putting a squeeze on the Malone eight in the following scrum, it was evident even at this stage Armagh had the upper hand through the power of Bassett, Hill and Clarke. Shortly after, the Malone out half converted a penalty on 8 minutes to give Malone an early 3 – 0 lead. By now Armagh were starting to get into the game with both forwards and backs combining to take play into the Malone half. Jonny Allen took play out wide to link with Robbie Faloon who showed great pace added with some elusive running to beat two defenders and touch down out wide. Matthew Steenson missed the conversion but added a penalty on 25 minutes to give Armagh a lead of 8 – 5. Using the strong breeze Malone took play back into the Armagh Half and some indiscipline by Armagh give Malone two relatively easy penalties to leave the score 9-8 to Malone at half time. With the team half time talk focusing on using the wind to play to the corners, Armagh kicked off determined to regain the lead.
The backline lead by Simon Cuttle and Jonny Allen were starting to make inroads through the Malone defence. Willy Hill took a pass at pace to break through the Malone back line and sprint 30 metres to touch down at the posts. With the conversion by Steenson, Armagh were now 15 – 9 ahead. With clever use of the boot by Cuttle, Steenson and Faloon Armagh were able to keep Malone pinned deep in their own half. Another try followed on 53 minutes after some great inter passing by both forwards and backs led to a good try by Jonny Allen who touched out midway out. With the conversion added by Steenson, Armagh had a healthy lead of 22 – 9. Malone who had always looked dangerous, snapped up the ball from the restart after a lapse in Armagh concentration to score close to the posts. This brought the score to 22 – 16 and was a reminder to the visitors that the game was far from over. After regaining territorial advantage, Robert Straghan who was having a great game in the centre, made another fine line break to put winger Josh Morton in for a good try at the corner flag. Steenson missed the difficult conversion to leave the score 27 – 16 to Armagh. More superb handling by the backs led to a second try for Faloon who made the conversion easy for Steenson by touching down at the posts. With a final score of 36 – 16, this was a very good all round team performance.
LURGAN Rugby Club II XV 16 v City Of ARMAGH Rugby Club III XV 17
Armagh thirds made it two from two in the Junior League when they travelled to Lurgan on Saturday to play the hosts’ second string, in blustery and showery conditions.
A strong Lurgan team encamped themselves in the Armagh half with the strong breeze to assist them. Applying heavy pressure, Lurgan took the lead after ten minutes with a penalty. From the restart, Armagh made a bit of headway in to the opposition half only to end up back in their own 22 after more mistakes. The Lurgan out half converted another penalty to make it 6-0. The Armagh pack, welcoming back Gary Hanson from a five year break, took the play to Lurgan and after some fine rucking, Andy George ran in for a try on the stroke of half time. The conversion was missed and Armagh went in 6-5 down.
Lurgan’s half time team talk lifted them and from the restart, they made their way up the pitch only to come to come away with another penalty. This spurred the Armagh men on and after sixty minutes, some fine running Stan Hamilton chipped through and Matty Allen chased and collected and put Hamilton through under the posts. Knipe converted and Armagh had the lead. Lurgan again ventured into the Armagh half but where met by a strong defence. With five minutes remaining Mark Mackey made a strong break and after some neat hands, Paddy Simms scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. The youthful Armagh side took their foot of the pedal and with 2 minutes left, Lurgan’s strong out half scored and converted. From the kick off, Lurgan mad a couple of breaks for the Armagh line but the away side were saved by the final whistle and came away 17-16 winners.
Having dominated in the scrum and defended well, Armagh did well against a strong Lurgan side but no they will have to improve against the stronger sides in this league.
TEAM
1. Gary Hanson
2. Gareth Megaw
3. Colin Cochrane
4. Andy Fletcher
5. Paul Cully
6. James Hanna
7. Phillip Hooks
8. Jude Parr
9. Andy Knipe (1 con)
10. Stan Hamilton (1 try)
11. Mark Mackey
12. Andy George (1 try)
13. Matthew Allen
14. Paddy Simms (1try)
15. Jamie Monaghan
