ARMAGH Rugby 0 v CLOGHER VALLEY Rugby 31
Armagh entertained their neighbours, Clogher Valley, in the semi-final of the Powerade Towns Cup last Saturday afternoon. The Armagh side were still numb from the humbling 33-17 league defeat they had suffered from Coleraine on Wednesday evening. When the Clogher army of supporters arrived en mass at the Place Grounds it became increasingly obvious that the Tyrone side were going to put on a very strong challenge for this famous trophy.
The game kicked off in perfect conditions but only three minutes into the match Armagh suffered a killer blow. Clogher scored a try in the left corner. The conversion was on target to put the score at 0-7. After fifteen minutes play Armagh had not managed to force their way out of their own half. After another fifteen minutes play Clogher scored another try to bring the score to 0-12.
The second half kicked off pretty much as the first half ended with Clogher pinning Armagh in their own half. The frustration was evident as Stewart Lambe was sin binned for repeatedly handling in rucks. With a man down the battle was going to be no easier. This was proved to be the case when Clogher’s flanker touched down a try. The conversion went wide but the 0-17 score line looked increasingly ominous. A handling error in front of the Armagh posts gave Clogher an easy try, which was converted to bring the score to 0-24. To add insult to injury Clogher scored another try just before the final whistle to bring the score to 0-31.
Clogher fully deserved their victory and were cautiously confident when they heard that Ballynahinch 2nd’s would be their opposition in the Towns cup final.
The only glimpse of good news for Armagh on Saturday came when news filtered through that Cooke had drawn with Portadown. This meant that both clubs would share the league points. The Armagh squad now have a full week to rest and recuperate before travelling to Limavady for their next encounter.
Image of Armagh’s prop forward Jason McMaghon scoring on Saturday against
Ballynahinch
COLERAINE Rugby 33 v ARMAGH rugby 17
Armagh made the long trip north to Coleraine on Wednesday evening with a four-point lead at the top of Qualifying one league. To date they had lost only one league game all season. However, the schedule of reorganised fixtures was beginning to take its toll with various niggling injuries throughout the Armagh squad. Counting this game, they will have played five games in only fifteen days.
The match kicked off in near perfect conditions but immediately after the whistle Armagh found themselves on the defence as Coleraine launched attack after attack. After only five minutes play they had scored a try when their forwards managed to touch down to the left of the posts but the conversion went wide to put the score to 5-0. Armagh’s winger Mattie Irwin made a spirited break and only for a handling error, a certain try would have resulted. Ten minutes later Coleraine scored again and with the conversion the score stood at 12-0. The first quarter of the game had to be awarded to the home team but Armagh’s forwards settled they were beginning to win ball from both loose and set pieces. Colin Atkinson scored a fine breakaway try at the Coleraine post after thirty minutes play The conversion put the score at 12-7 and Armagh were back in the game.
Scrum half Mattie Wright score an opportune try when he grabbed the ball and went over a ruck rather than round it. He touched down just to the right of the posts. Johnny Steenson’s conversion put the score to 12-14. The half time whistle blew and Armagh’s slender lead appeared to have given them a spur.
The second half started just as the first with Coleraine pressing the visitors but the home forwards were penalised for handling the ball in a ruck. Yet again, Steenson’s kicking was on target bringing the score to 12-17. Directly from the re-start, Coleraine scored a try between the Armagh posts. This was converted bringing the sore to 19-17. Armagh’s problems were mounting as James Morton was forced to leave the field injured.
At this stage of the game, the strain and fatigue could be seen on the faces of the Armagh players. They were failing to make tackles and were seen to repeatedly make handling errors. Under normal circumstances, these failings just would never be evident in Armagh’s game.
After some very gallant defence Coleraine’s scrumhalf touched down at the Armagh posts, this was converted to bring the score to 26-17. The final ten minutes play saw Armagh repeatedly attack the Coleraine line but all came to nothing. To add insult to injury Coleraine scored a pushover try in the dying minutes of the game, which was converted to bring the final score to 33-17.
Coleraine totally deserved their win. Indeed, Armagh by comparison, appeared slow and were obviously suffering from too much rugby in too few days.
