Armagh travelled to Musgrave Park in Cork to play Sundays Well in AIL2B hoping to continue their excellent start to their league campaign and after an extremely physical match which produced five yellow cards , four of which were awarded against the home side, Armagh deservedly won by 23pts to12.
Armagh kicked off into the slight breeze and were immediately penalised for coming in from the side .Sundays Well out-half O,Riordan converted the penalty to put the home side 3pts to nil in front inside the first minute.
Armagh responded from the restart and winning quick ball in mid-field live-wire scrum-half Doyle fed out-half Magowan who was stopped illegally by the home side inches short of their goal-line. Armagh opted for the line-out and after their initial drive was stopped they re-cycled the ball and moved it quickly to centre Mallon who burst through the static home defence to score under the posts. Reaney’s successful conversion now put Armagh 7pts to 3 ahead mid-way through the first half.
The rest of the first half was evenly contested by two well matched sides , No quarter was given or asked for by either side, as they tore into each other. Armaghs discipline was however beginning to let them down and they were punished on three separate occasions by the accurate boot of O,Riordan. A successful penalty by Rainey restricted Sundays Well half- time lead to only 12pts to 10.
Armagh began the second half with renewed determination and using the strengthening breeze intelligently they kept the hosts pinned deep in their half of the field, As the pressure mounted Sundays Well discipline deserted them as they conceded a series of penalties two of which were converted by Rainey thus regaining the lead for Armagh 16pts to 12.
As the big home pack began to tire Armagh were now in firm control of the game and despite some heroic defending by Sundays Well their line was finally breached again when a poor clearance kick by the under pressure Sundays Well full-back was collected by Armagh centre Allen whose slick pass put fellow centre Mallon clear. His dash for the line was stopped by desperate Sundays Well defence but the centres off-load was collected by the excellent Doyle who scored close to the posts. Reaney’s successful conversion concluded the scoring leaving Armagh deserved victors by 23pts to 12.
Armagh head-coach Andy Hughes was delighted with the result. He was pleased that his side had fronted up to a very aggressive and physical side We are still not were I would like us to be but we are getting there.
Sundays Well New Zealand director of rugby Arron Jones conceded that Armagh deserved to win stressing that indiscipline had cost his side dearly You cannot win matches when you have only 14 players on the pitch for over half the game. We must sort that out and quickly or it could be a long and difficult season for us.
