ARMAGH rugby 24 v SLIGO 0
Saturday’s long trek into Connacht to play Sligo was always going to present a strong challenge to the Armagh team. Season 2010-11 saw Armagh make the same journey to be defeated in the semi-final of the All Ireland Junior Cup. Last season saw Sligo play Armagh in the Palace Grounds when half time saw Armagh 21-3 ahead only to see Sligo fight back to narrow the score down to 21-19 at the final whistle! Essentially the special challenge presented by these two teams promised a thrilling encounter.
Saturday’s game saw Armagh playing in non-familiar jerseys. Apparently, the Armagh kit bag had gone astray! This game kicked off wit Armagh playing into slight breeze in bright sunlight. Within five minutes play Armagh’s captain Phill Hill was sin-binned for failing to rollaway after a tackle. This failed to deter the Armagh side and Andrew Willis ran their first try in the left corner. The conversion, however, went wide.
Shortly after the re-start Sligo’s open side flanker was sin-binned for breaking his bind in a scrum. The home side exerted a period of pressure on Armagh just before half time when the forced Armagh to defend from inside their own 22 for five minutes. This pressure, however, was relieved when Sligo lost possession through a handling error. The half time whistle saw the score at 0-5.
With the breeze now freshening and the playing surface gradient favouring Armagh they appeared to be taking control of the game. Five minutes into the half, saw winger, Andrew Willis, score his second try of the game. Again, the conversion went wide but with the score at 0-10 Armagh continued to dominate. From the re-start Sligo were awarded a penalty but the touch kick failed to reach its target. To add to Sligo’s problems the breeze sent the clearance right back into Sligo’s 22. A series of handling errors put the home defence on their goal line but Armagh’s rampant James McCall forced his way over the line to score ththird rty of the game. Dylan Ferreira’s conversion was on target to bring the score to 0-17.
Sligo continued to make repeated handling errors. Armagh, on the other hand, appeared to focus their efforts on scoring a fourth try in order to gain a bonus point.
After two failed efforts when James Morton touched down short of the line and Johnny Clarke’s effort was judged, to have been ‘held up’ a final effort was successful. Man-of-the-match Phill Fletcher picked from a ruck close to the Sligo line and drove his way almost over. James McCall then gathered and touched down. To crown off the game Dylan Ferreira found the target again to put the final score to 0-24.
Somehow, the long drive home seemed a lot more pleasant with a winning bonus point in the bag not to mention the lack of deep snow to mar the journey like the previous trip into Connacht.
