Enniskillen continued their undefeated start to the season last Saturday with a comprehensive 38 –
10 win against a struggling Larne side, languishing at the bottom of Kukri 2.
The day started on a sour note however with in-form goal kicker, and out-half, Chris McVitty being
withdrawn after injuring an ankle in the warm-up. The enforced change in the back-line saw Nigel
Johnston moving in to out-half and 18 year old John Maguire being called up for his first start in an
Enniskillen 1st XV jersey.
A cagey opening to the game saw Enniskillen largely on the defensive for the opening minutes with
the heavy Larne forward pack taking it to the hosts, but being repeatedly repelled by an impressive
Enniskillen defence, that has only leaked 4 tries thus far this season. The defensive pressure finally
told on the guests, when in the fourth minute good link up play by Felix Quigley and the rampaging
Gavin Parke led to the the ball being shipped wide, with a nice move finally being finished of by the
supporting Eddie Roofe, 5 – 0 ‘Skins.
Further tight play ensued, with Larne again having a large proportion of the ball, but with the
Enniskillen scrum, anchored by Richie Beatty, starting to assert its dominance, the visitors were
starting to run out of ideas in attack and resorted to kicking the ball away. Unfortunately
Enniskillen failed to clear their lines effectively, eventually giving away a penalty which the visitors
converted to reduce the arrears to 5 – 3.
Undeterred Enniskillen regrouped and started to move the ball more effectively, spreading the Larne
defence which was starting to show signs of fatigue. Enniskillen through the direct running of
centre Alan Wilkinson and tough New Zealander Robbie Murray were beginning to make breaks,
but unfortunately some sloppy handling errors squandered try scoring opportunities. Wilkinson did
get his reward shortly after, when good phase play and slick hands by stand in out half Johnston and
centre Donagh O’Callaghan, led to him crashing over in the corner for a well deserved try just
before half-time to leave it at 10 – 3 come the interval.
After the break Enniskillen’s dominance in defence and in the scrum continued and they punished
Larne’s ill-discipline, gaining superior field position, which they then took advantage of when
Enniskillen’s talismanic number 8 Jamie Johnston crashed over from a scrum close to the Larne try
line for another score. 17 – 3.
The following try for winger Alistair Duncan was the highlight of the game and a thing of beauty
from the front row forwards, in particular prop Richie Beatty. After some nice build up play and
some classy handling by prop Quigley and hooker Murray, Beatty found himself in space on the
wing and nonchalantly put a perfectly weighted grubber kick through which Duncan raced on to,
collected, and touched down for a superb Enniskillen try. 24 – 3 to the hosts.
Buoyed by the previous score Enniskillen heaped the pressure on the increasingly despondent
visitors and a lose pass by the Larne back line was gratefully gathered by centre O’Callaghan who
raced 40 metres to touch down under the posts. 31 – 3.
Things were starting to open up for the home team who scored again shortly after, through an
incisive midfield break by Murray but unfortunately they then conceded a intercept try in the final
minutes which left the final score a respectable 38 – 10.
A good performance by the undefeated Skins team, but with several squandered opportunities, it
could have been even better. Enniskillen now face two crucial fixtures against in form Grosvenor
followed by Bangor RFC, which are must win games if their title ambitions are to be realised.
