Saturday saw Armagh launch their 2010 season proper when they entertained Ballymena second’s in the newly structured Ulster Conference league. This league has been established to encourage the second teams of the senior Ulster clubs to play against the Qualifying league teams. The result at the Palace Grounds would indicate that possibly the senior clubs have a lot to learn if they are to compete in the company of the so-called junior teams!
Armagh played the game with an air of confidence and for the whole 80 minutes they scored try after try and deprived Ballymena from even threatening the home score-line.
Armagh fielded several new signings in the form of, winger, Alexis Luneau from Narbonne. Scrum-half, Freddie Cuttle transferred from Belfast Harlequins. Centre, Colin Atkinson, has taken up assistant coaching duties at The Palace Grounds. Centre, Andy Holmes, transferred from Dungannon. These new faces all contributed to the intensity of the Armagh game. Indeed, the speed and accuracy of the off-loading put Ballymena under severe pressure as attack after attack resulted in a very impressive score-line. The home side’s defence also impressed with the impressive try count as proof that the Armagh team worked well together. The Ballymena pack was much heavier than Armagh but before the game was ten minutes old it was obvious that set pieces were going to go Armagh’s way. Indeed it is quite a while since Armagh won so many scrums ‘against the head’. Winger, Jonny Allen was nominated as the man of the match.
Next Saturday sees Armagh take on Coleraine in the first League game of the season. On Saturday Coleraine were beaten 20-10 by Cooke at home so they will be smarting and will be keen to secure league points. The qualifying League is always a very keenly fought affair but this season promises to be even tighter with the newly relegated Portadown team on the scene. Kick-off is at 2-30pm so get yourselves down to The Palace Grounds to be entertained by one of the hardest working team in Ulster rugby.
