Saturday saw Armagh entertain Ards at the Palace Grounds in the first round of the 2012-13 Senior Cup tournament. This fixture was a carbon copy when Ards travelled to Armagh to pay the identical fixture last season. Twelve months ago the home team won a fairly easy victory but as everyone knows nothing could be taken for granted in this game! CLICK HERE for 23 shots from this game
Armagh kicked off in absolute perfect conditions with the scoreboard showing 25 degrees with no wind to affect the game. Out-half Richard Reaney put the ball deep into the Ards five metre area which was collected by James Morton who touched down for the first Armagh try. This in turn was converted by Matthew Steenson to put the home team 7-0 up within the first two minutes of play!
From the restart the Armagh out-half Reaney made a fine break down the centre only to be penalised for not releasing at the break-down. The Ards kick for goal went wide but after the re-start the Armagh team’s attack was frenetic and only when the Ards out half, Banford, was caught off-side did the action cease. Steenson’s kick was on target to ease the score out to 10-0. Armagh kept the pressure on with a fine kick to the left corner from Richard Reaney but the attack was relieved when the home side were penalized for a deliberate knock-on. The kick went wide but Ards were rewarded with a fine try when Scott Young touched down following some lacklustre Armagh tackling! The conversion was on target and the 10-7 score seemed to encourage the visitors who courageously battled against a stronger and fitter pack.
After 38 minutes of hard, fast rugby Armagh scored a fine push-over try when, lock forward, Phill Hill touched down. The conversion went wide leaving the Half time score at 15-7.
Again, the Armagh coach, Andrew Hughes, had some harsh words and this appeared to take effect from the restart. Richard Reaney again burst through some poor Ards tackling and scored at the posts. Surprisingly the conversion went astray as it struck the post! Shortly after number 8 forward, James Morton, scored one of his signature tries! This was followed by the efforts of a fine front row burst from Phillip Fletcher who fed the ball to John Purdy who scored a touch-down after a 35 metre burst. The kick went wide again but the final score of 30-7 was adequate to give the home side a bonus point and some encouragement. The hot, dry conditions had resulted in some very entertaining afternoon’s sport but the home defence came into question on more than one occasion. This, coupled with poor kicking will require improvement when the Armagh team travels to Clonakilty in the All-Ireland League at the end of the month!
