Fresh after their 32-0 drubbing from Cashel last week Armagh headed back north to play Rainey for the second time in five weeks. Andy Hughes’s side had put up a spirited show on New Year’s Eve when they defeated the ‘Derry side 11-0 as Tinus Van Wyk scored the only try in that game. That match, however, was in the Ulster League whereas Saturday’s fixture was in the Ulster Bank All-Ireland League. Rainey had made it known that their preference was aimed at the latter.
The proceeding twenty-four hour’s weather conditions of more or less continuous rain had made the playing surface at Heatrick Park decidedly sticky. To make playing conditions even more difficult an hour just prior to kick-off there was a downpour, which left the pitch decidedly heavy.
Armagh kicked off with a light breeze at their backs but with only two minutes on the clock the visiting side were caught off-side right in front of their own posts. The Rainey out half, Martin, was on target to put the home side 3-0 ahead. Shortly after the re-start Armagh’s full-back Steenson put in one of his spirited breaks from deep inside his own ’22 and took the ball up the field to inside the opposition’s 10-metre line. The home side were then penalised for not releasing the tackled player. James McBriar landed the kick to even the score at 3-3. Rainey kept pressurising Armagh but Jacques van Rooyen demonstrate his extreme strength when he managed to ‘hold up’ a Rainey winger on the centre spot almost single handed and the resultant scrum illustrated the lighter Armagh pack were more than able to hold their own in the set pieces. Indeed, Armagh were then seen to ‘steal’ a good few Rainey line-outs. After twelve minutes the Armagh front row were penalised for not binding correctly and the Rainey no.10 obliged with another kick to put the score at 6-3. The referee then sin-binned Jacques for using his hands in a ruck. The resultant kick was, yet again, on target. The numerical advantage now put even more pressure on the visiting side who at this stage of the game were beginning to feel the strain from the strong home pack. The 9-3 scoreline was beginning to look ominous but things took a definite turn for the worse when Rainey’s nimble scrum-half kicked a drop goal from the back of a line-out bringing the score to 12-3 with twenty five minutes on the clock. The game took a sinister turn when, after thirty three minutes play, James Morton scored just left of the posts after fielding a defenders clearance. McBriar’s conversion brought the score to 12-10 and it also brought Armagh right back into the game. Just before the half-time break Armagh were again penalised for hands in a ruck. Again, the Rainey out-half opened the score out to 15-10.
The half-time team talk seemed to inspire the visitors as was illustrated from the restart when the turned over the Rainey pack. Andrew Willis was forced to leave the game with a hand injury and was replaced with Timmy NcNeice. Armagh’s prop Jacques van Rooyen was penalised for ‘over aggression in a ruck’. Not to be out done Armagh’s play was seen to step up a gear after the Rainey scrum-half was sin-binned for an intentional knock-on and the numerical advantage led to a fine try by James McBriar in the right corner. His conversion went wide, however, but the 15-15 score took on a new look and Armagh were now right back into the game. The last quarter of the game finished with a real crescendo. After the Rainey pack caught the Armagh forwards off-guard they appeared to demolish an Armagh scrum. The resultant penalty kick pinned Armagh in the right corner with the scrum of the match putting the game result at stake. To add to Armagh’s problems their captain, Phill Hill, was sin-binned for using his hands in a ruck also their hooker, Pete Lambe was forced to leave with a shoulder injury and Steven Morton substituted. The pressure on both packs was immense. After several re-sets the ball emerged on the Rainey side but a very untidy delivery illustrated that the Armagh forwards had effectively won this battle. The ball was passed out the Rainey backs but the Armagh defence bundled the winger into touch. The line-out was won and Richard Reaney’s diagonal clearance relieved the pressure and put the play just inside the home side’s half. In the dying minutes of the game Armagh were penalised for pulling down a ruck. As the Rainey’s kicker prepared to take the kick the tension around the park became unbearable. But, for once, the seemingly simple, kick was off-target and the game ended with the score at 15-15.
Effectively Armagh had played the Rainey side twice in five weeks. They currently hold fourth place in the All-Ireland League. Armagh, however, climbed two League places. In both games Rainey failed to score any tries Armagh, on the other hand, scored one in December and twice on Saturday. They were able to control the much heavier Rainey pack and managed to move two places up the league for their efforts. So while Saturday’s result was a draw Armagh came away with a great boost to their confidence and face the remainder of the season with the knowledge that they can win really crucial games. Next week they entertain Ards at The Palace Grounds. Ards have been struggling at the foot of the table but a surprise result on Saturday, when they defeated Nenagh Ormond, must have spurred on their confidence. Saturday’s game certainly promises to be a real showstopper as both sides scramble for league points.
