Armagh 52 Wanderers 17
A SUBLIME home performance from Armagh on Saturday sealed their first win in the All-Ireland League.
Andy Hughes’ side were ruthless against the Leinster visitors and bossed the game throughout.
Indeed such was Armagh’s dominance, they had victory and the bonus point wrapped up before half time.
And a 33-3 lead at the break allowed Hughes to ring the changes in the second half, giving his entire squad vital game time.
Winger Matthew Irwin led the way for Armagh with four tries on a day when everything went to plan.
Following their 9-6 defeat to Sunday’s Well, Armagh went into the game with a point to prove.
And prove it they did with an electric start as they took the lead within two minutes of kick off.
Armagh were awarded a penalty and from the line-out on Wanderers’ 22, the pack rumbled on all the way to the five metre line. And after a couple of rucks, South African prop Jacques van Rooen powered his way over the line. James McBriar added the conversion and Armagh had the perfect start.
There was a let off for the hosts five minutes later when Wanderers launched an attack but openside flanker Alex Byrne dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.
But that was as close as Wanderers would come in the first half as Armagh started to move through the gears.
And on 11 minutes Armagh scored another seven-pointer. From a solid scrum in midfield, the ball was moved along the backs and Irwin’s pace was too good for the covering defence. McBriar slotted over the conversion but still there was more to come.
Scrum-half Harry Doyle went over for a try four minutes later after spotting a gap but, this time, the conversion was wide.
The visitors made it 19-3 on 26 minutes with a penalty from Peter Burke after Armagh had been penalised at a ruck.
Back came Armagh and on the half hour they had the bonus point thanks to a bit of luck. McBriar’s penalty came back off the post but hooker Gareth Megaw was following up and gathered the ball to score the fourth try.
This time the conversion was successful but there was still time for Armagh to claim a fifth try.
After a break out of defence, a ruck was formed on halfway and quick ball allowed possession to move to Irwin. And the winger showed another injection of pace and he successfully chased down his own kick to score.
With the conversion added, Armagh went into the half time break 33-3 up.
With so many changes being made at half time and throughout the second half, Armagh lost their momentum but they never looked like surrendering their lead.
Wanderers went over for their first try of the game on 53 minutes when Byrne burrowed over from close range.
Burke added the simple conversion and, seven minutes later, the visitors went over again with a carbon copy of their first try.
Back came Armagh and they scored another try on 63 minutes when Colin Atkinson made an impressive break and Irwin was in the perfect supporting position to race in for his hat-trick.
McBriar’s conversion made it 40-17 while on 72 minutes, sustained attack from the Armagh pack with a Wanderers forward in the sin bin, resulted in South African lock Tinus van Wyk crashing over. Another conversion was added and, in the last move of the game, Irwin scored his fourth try with another chip and chase.
Armagh: Johnny Steenson, Andrew Willis, Colin Atkinson, Richard Reaney, Matthew Irwin, James McBriar, Harry Doyle, John Purdy, Gareth Megaw, Jaques van Rooen, Phil Hill, Tinus van Wyk, James Morton, Mark Riddell, James McCall.
Subs: James Johnston, Richard Morton, Neil Faloon, Peter Elliott, Matthew Wright.
Wanderers: Paul Moynihan, Ritchie Kavanagh, Lorcan Kavanagh, Peter Burke, Philip Hackett, Josh Reeves, Freddie Mehigan, Fionan Sheahan. David O’Brien, James Clifford, Mark McCoy, Michael Kevany, Ruairi Geogehan, Alex Byrne, Paddy Mallon.
Subs: David McGrail, Donagh O’Shea, Justin Killigan, Michael South, Michael Lutte.
Armagh scored 8 tries against wanderers 2 Armagh tries from
Jacques Van Rooyen
Mattie Irwin [4 no.]
Harry Doyle
Gareth Megaw
Tinnus Van wyk
Kicks from James McBriar & Johnny Steenson
Wanderers tries
James Clifford
Alex Byrne
Kicker
Peter Burke
Final score 52. 17
