The lengthy unprecedented, weather induced, two-month layoff finally ended on Saturday last with Enniskillen travelling to Hamilton Park, Newtownards for a first round tie with the home side in this season’s Town’s Cup, one of the most keenly contested competitions in Junior rugby. Skins, who exited last season’s Town’s Cup at the semi-final stage, were looking forward to improving on that this season.
Skins, having won the toss, decided to play against the very strong wind in the first half, and Ards used the wind to their advantage and spent the initial fifteen minutes of the contest firmly rooted deep within the visitor’s half. Although they attempted to move the ball they did not make much headway or inroads against a well-organized Enniskilen defence. Skins seemed content to soak up the pressure during this opening period and then in the twenty-first minute following two scrums in quick succession, that the visiting eight totally dominated, Enniskillen broke from their own ‘22’. Following some nimble interlinking between the backs and forwards Jamie Johnston gathered possession and sprinted thirty metres to touch down behind the Ards line for the opening score of the game..
Enniskillen from that point began to dominate both the set pieces and the breakdown area. The front row of Gareth Batty, Ryan Cathcart and Alan Ferguson, who was making his first appearance for the 1ST XV, totally asserted themselves at the scrums. Indeed, as a consequence of this pressure the Ards tight head was substituted after thirty minutes.
Then in the twenty-sixth minute after another period of concerted Enniskillen pressure Ally Duncan cut in from the left wing to create an opening in the centre and having linked with the ever present Ricky Connor and James McIntyre was then available to take the ball again and score under the posts. McIntyre added the conversation.
Shortly afterwards the Skins back row turned over Ards possession, and again Jamie Johnston having broken the defensive cover made a twenty metre drive before feeding Haslett Brien who drove over for Enniskillen’s third try, to leave the visitors nineteen points up at the interval.
With just over ten minutes of the second half played ‘Skins open side flanker, Gavin Parke, who had an excellent game throughout, broke from a ruck in his own half and after sprinting thirty metres fed Duncan who in turn off-loaded to Ryan Cathcart, who dived over the line for another Enniskillen try. Cathcart had an outstanding game throughout adding an extra dimension to the ‘Skins loose play, playing a pivotal role in many of the Skins attacks.
With the game virtually safe at this point, and to the delight of the travelling support, Skins determinedly kept the ball in hand, with plenty of movement back and forth across the pitch. James McIntyre, back in an Enniskillen jersey after a period of study leave, completely dominated at out-half. Alan Wilkinson and Nigel Johnston in the centre created problems for the home defence all afternoon and the Skins back three of Mark O’Shea, Ally Duncan and Chris Dickey linked effectively in both defence and attack during the eighty minutes.
The home side did attempt to rally at this stage and after a rare excursion into the Enniskillen half a sure scoring opportunity was thwarted when Gareth Beatty executed a try saving tackle on the Ards winger.
Mid way through the second period the Ards blind side forward, Presho, was eventually yellow carded for consistent obstruction. From the resulting penalty Enniskillen moved the ball wide to the back line and with Mark O’Shea injecting a notable degree of pace from the full back position gained possession to sprint over fifty meters to score in the corner. McIntyre duly converted.
The Enniskillen back row of Johnston, Brien and Parke, assisted by the second row pairing of Cathal McGarry and Mark O’ Callaghan, totally dominated the loose play. Kyle Shaw, who travelled as a last minute replacement fitted seamlessly into the back five.
During the final quarter some efficient off-loading and support play by Skins overpowered the home side. Their confidence and ability to break from defence with ball in hand ensured they finished the match firmly in control.
Towards the end of the half and after a sustained period of pressure from the visitors Jamie Johnson was again on hand to gather a pass and score under the posts to round off a satisfactory return to competitive action for the Enniskillen side.
Alan Ferguson and Cathal McGarry who made their first starts for the 1st XV deserve special mention.
After the game the Enniskillen coach, Patrick Garret, expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance after such a long absence from competitive rugby.
Skins now look forward to a return to league action next week with an away visit to Belfast High School Former Pupils. With last Saturday’s performance in Ards and with the Second XV’s excellent away win against Omagh competition is now intensifying for places on the starting fifteens, so hopefully, and in an effort to have a good second half to the season, a full turn out for training is imperative on both Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Mullaghmeen. With commitment from the players and with the first class coaching presently in place there is no reason why Skins cannot have an enjoyable end to what has been a disjointed season to date.
