Enniskillen erased the spectre of the Towns Cup meeting between the sides with this comprehensive victory over Dungannon and in some style.
‘Skins definitely went into the match feeling they had something to prove and went about their business with gusto from the opening kick-off and were quickly on the board with a Gavin Parke penalty after three minutes.
‘Skins kept the pressure on the Dungannon defence and some neat interchange of passes saw them go close in the right hand corner, but Gareth Donaldson, on his 1st XV debut, was just forced into touch. Dungannon failed to clear their lines and after one further phase ‘Skins spun the ball along the back line and Andrew Dixon, leading the chase for the club’s top try scorer this season, stepped inside his man to squeeze over the line for a try. Parke converted and ‘Skins led 10 – 0 with just eleven minutes played.
The game was going in just one direction as the visitors struggled to cope with Enniskillen’s energy and pace and on twenty minutes the lead was further extended. A penalty was pushed into the corner and the lineout ball was secured. A short drive toward the line was halted but two phases later Parke popped up in midfield to score under the posts, dragging a defender with him. He added the conversion and ‘Skins held a seventeen point advantage.
The scoring for the first half was not done there. The game carried on toward the half time break in much the same vein, and Eddie Roofe, part of a very impressive backrow corps at Enniskillen, added the side’s third try, which Parke again converted.
Dungannon to their credit kept going and started to hold onto the ball better and were rewarded with a try a few minutes before the break to reduce the arrears to 24 – 5.
The second half was to bring little relief for the visitors, as ‘Skins again came flying out of the blocks and barely five minutes had passed before another debutant, Dave Ewart, scored his first try for the club. This time Parke was unsuccessful with the conversion but the lead was stretched to 29 – 5.
Both sides then swapped converted tries in a three minutes period. Firstly the once again impressive David Taylor was on hand to score between the sticks, Parke converting, and then Dungannon capitalised on some loose play to waltz through the ‘Skins defensive line, making the score 36 – 12.
‘Skins again reacted well to conceding points and it was that man Parke who created the next score when he broke from halfway to within range of the Dungannon line before being stopped. The ball was recycled quickly, a pleasing aspect to ‘Skins play, and Ally Duncan had time and space to dot the ball down for ‘Skins sixth try. This time Parke’s conversion rattled the bar, but ‘Skins lead was out to 41 – 12.
‘Skins were determined not to let the visitors off the hook and continued to press. The forwards were in complete control and rumbled over the line for another try, Taylor getting the final touch, and with Parke again successful. Worse was to follow for Dungannon when Dixon was given the ball following the restart and with a dummy and step he was gone to score ‘Skins eighth and final try. Parke made the score line 55 – 12 with barely five minutes remaining.
Again Dungannon deserve credit for keeping the game alive and managed two unconverted tries in the closing minutes to add some respectability to the scoreline, but ‘Skins ran out 55 – 22 winners.
Fixtures
1st XV – Away – Bangor
3rd XV – Home – Rainey OB – Butler Shield QF
Sunday 19th February
Ladies v Cooke – Rosie Stewart Ulster Cup Final
Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast
2:30 kick-off
