Enniskillen entertained their old friends Dromore in a pre-season friendly at Mullaghmeen last Saturday, in what was an important match for both teams ahead of some challenging league matches.
‘Skins were slighty understrength due to injuries and holiday commitments but I spite of managing to field a competitive team it was the visitors who had the better start playing with the wind and with a higher pace than the home side. ‘Skins however defended very well and managed to keep a lot of the play outside their own “22”.
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Penalties were exchanged as both sides fought for supremacy and the visiting half-backs, both just 18 years of age, provided some quick and accurate service to their backs, but there was never a real threat to the home defence.
The exercise proved costly for ‘Skins who suffered two severe injury blows in the first half when first Johnny Foster and then David Taylor had to leave the field, and the club sends them best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
Just before half time break Dromore’s outhalf kicked a good penalty to leave the half-time score 6 – 3 in favour of the visitors.
The feeling among those in attendance was that ‘Skins would use the wind in the second-half to dominate the match, but that did not happen. The smaller Dromore pack raised its game and working off a very good lineout, denied the home side much worthwhile ball and as a result ‘Skins rarely got good field position in the visitors’ half and tried, perhaps too often, to play an expansive game without having first “earned the right to go wide”, when sometimes it would’ve been more prudent to build the phases.
‘Skins did enjoy a period of pressure in the second half, when they put some phases together, which led to Alistair Duncan finishing with a good try in the corner late in the game.
With little time remaining it was essential that the restart be taken cleanly and the ball despatched deep into the Dromore half, but it didn’t happen and a penalty was conceded which was converted to give the visiotrs the lead back.
There was still time to turn things around, but again Dromore were able to ensure that play took place deep in the ‘Skins half and following a scrum Dromore’s quick-thinking scrum-half raced away and put the winger over in the corner for the final score, giving the visitors’ a desered 14 – 8 victory.
While much of what ‘Skins done, particularly in the scrum, was good, improvements can be made for the next game. There must be a much greater intensity upfront and a general awareness that to win games like this most of the play has to take place in the attacking third of the field. Lessons will be learned and there is no reason why the positives should not be carried forward to the Omagh game.
Enniskillen’s 2nd XV finish off pre-season this weekend when Cavan visit Mullaghmeen to contest the annual Fletcher Pollock Cup. Over the years a close relationship has been nurtured between the two clubs, headlined by this annual fixture. Kick-off is at 2:30 pm.
