CITY OF DERRY 37 ARMAGH rugby 3
Saturday saw Armagh first’s and second’s both make the long trek north to Judge’s Road to play The City of Derry. The seconds playing in the second XV league while the respective first‘s met in the Ulster League.
The last time Armagh first’s played the ‘Derry side was in the 2008-09 season when they narrowly defeated the Armagh side but then went on to win not only the Qualifying League but also the Junior Cup and the much coveted Towns Cup!
With a 1-00pm kick-off the seconds’ game’s final whistle coincided with the main game’s kick-off. Armagh won the early game 38-3 completing the major part of the game with 13 men even reducing to 12 men for a short period!
Derry kicked off with a slight breeze at their backs. After only four minutes a strong break led to a ‘Derry centre touching down close to the Armagh posts. The home out-half, McCarter, converted to open the score at 7-0. Just ten minutes later McCarter, himself, scored a try and converted to bring the score to 14-0. At this early stage of the game, things began to look ominous for Armagh with their pack suffering domination in both tight and loose play. Things took on a slightly optimistic phase when Armagh were warded a penalty when ‘Derry were penalise for rotating a scrum. James McBriar’s successful kick put the score to 14-3. This elation was, however, short lived when five minutes later the home side scored again, when the blind side flanker forced his wy through the Armagh defence raising the score to 19-3. To add to Armagh’s troubles Peter Elliott was ‘sin binned’ for retaliating when he was punched at the base of a ruck! The resultant penalty raised the score to 22-3. Just before the half-time break the ‘Derry number 8 touched down to raise the score to 27-3. On this occasion, McCarter’s conversion went wide.
After the break Armagh’s play improved dramatically and they spent at least twenty minutes in ‘Derry’s ‘22’. They launched attack after attack from every quarter but to no avail. Despite their sterling efforts, they just could not penetrate the barrack-like home defence! This spell of Armagh’s domination was ended when the visitors were penalised for failing to release a player after a tackle and yet again, the kick was accurate to raise the score to 30-3. To add insult to injury ‘Derry’s right-winger scored in the dying minutes of the game which McCarter converted to finish off the game at 37-3.
When all is said and done one has to ask the question. How was Armagh able to equal the ‘Derry team or even more to the point. How were they able to inflict a serious defeat on the Maiden City side when the met on The Palace grounds just two seasons ago? Perhaps the solution may evolve from the previous game played on Judges Road on Saturday. How can a successful senior club’s second fifteen be defeated 38-3 by a depleted 13 man team as ‘Derry’s was on Saturday?
Armagh, as a club, continues to adhere to a strategy of recruiting, training and playing a squad system of non-match fee earning players. This will, no doubt, produce a level of player and team that is fully competitive in All Ireland 2B but may fall short of the standard required to win All Ireland 2A league games illustrated at ‘Derry on Saturday. As the season, progresses Armagh’s policy will, no doubt, be further tested but to date the skill and resolution levels displayed in earlier matches will inevitably bring results in later encounters.
Next Saturday sees the team earn a well-deserved rest when the Senior Cup Semi-final cup games are played.
Seconds Storm to Victory
Armagh were on the road again last Saturday when they travelled to play city of Derry seconds in the 2nd fifteen league. There were a number of changes to the side which defeated Ards the previous week with Brian McConnell and Andrew Morton coming the front row, Willy Martin into the second row, Robbie Faloon came off the wing to play scrum half , Mark Allen and John Faloon stepped up to play on the wings. The game kicked with Armagh playing uphill into the breeze with an early penalty chance converted by Mathew Steenson. On 8 minutes Jonny Allen made a good break to put Mark Allen away on a 35 metre run to score in the corner. With the conversion by Steenson, Armagh had an early lead of 10 – 0. Unfortunately shortly after, Andrew Morton had to leave the field with a shoulder injury leading to uncontested scrums. This setback didn’t deter the remaining 14 players and as is the norm for this team, they stepped up a gear and produced some dynamic play from both forwards and backs. On 20 minutes Josh Morton scored in the same corner where John Faloon had been denied earlier after putting a foot in touch. At 15-0 up the team were now playing some inspirational rugby with Derry unable to keep possession of the ball or to get any territorial advantage. On 34 minutes Jonny Allen broke through the midfield defence and when tackled off loaded to Simon Cuttle who took the ball at pace to score a converted try at the posts. There was still time left before the half time whistle for Derry to make their way downfield to convert a penalty. Half time, Armagh 22 City of Derry 3.
With the breeze now at their backs, Armagh led by Clarke, McNeice, Davy and Willy Martin in the forwards took the game to the big Derry forwards. Robbie Faloon was proving to be a very able deputy at scrum half and kept the Derry back row guessing as to what his next move was. On fifty five minutes good movement in the backs put John Faloon in mid way out for a converted try 29 – 3. Again the injury jinx struck Armagh when Simon Cuttle had to leave the field with the re-occurance of an ankle injury. This meant playing the last 20 minutes with 13 players and suddenly Amagh’s position in the game seemed not as secure. However, the team’s determination to battle and scrap for every ball and committed tackling from each player kept Derry from crossing the line. After a period of Derry pressure deep in the visitor’s 22, Armagh broke downfield and fast hands from the backs put Josh Morton in at the posts for another converted try 36 – 3. In the closing stages of the game Gareth Megaw picked up a loose ball and cut through the Derry defence to score another converted try at the posts. This really was a magnificent performance from what is an exciting young team who when faced with adversity, knuckled down and played the game of their lives.
Team – Brian McConnell, Gareth Megaw, Andrew Morton, Willy Martin, Davy Martin, Gareth McNeice, Stephen Morton, Jonny Clarke, Robbie Faloon, Mathew Steenson, John Faloon, Simon Cuttle, Jonny Allen, Mark Allen, Josh Morton.
