KQ3A
Londonderry YM 14
Lurgan 32
Junior League 5
Lurgan II 15
Grosvenor 45
Londonderry YMCA 14Lurgan 32
Lurgan got back to winning ways with an important and impressive display at Drumahoe last Saturday, Writes Paddy Allen.
Having suffered an opening day home defeat (18-19) back in September to YM Lurgan knew that this was going to be another tough encounter.
Lurgan took the lead after eight minutes when Stephen Nolan slotted over a penalty from 40 meters. They increased their lead to 8-0 in the 18th minute with a try for back row Aaron Robinson who was on the end of a good move up the blind side involving Chris Jenks and Richard Clarke.
This gave YM a wake up call and they replied with a drop goal and penalty goal on 21 and 30 minutes from their out half to make it 8 – 6.
Four minutes from the break Lurgan went further ahead after the play of the match. A box kick from scrum half Chris Jenks in his own 22 was chased by Lurgan’s winger Johnny Kingham. Just as the ball was caught by YM’s winger Kingham tackled him into touch on halfway for a Lurgan line out.
Clean ball off the top was spread across the backs with several off loads involving backs and forwards as one phase of play found the right hand touchline on the 22. From there quick ball found out half Nolan who put in a perfect cross field kick to man of the match Kingham on the left wing in plenty of space as he scored in the corner with Nolan banging over the touchline conversion.
From the restart another box kick from Jenks produced the same outcome as Kingham again tackled his opposite number into touch. From the line out the ball found centre and captain Scott Gardiner who broke through the YM defence in midfield and powered his way over from 35 meters to go over under the posts with Nolan adding the simple extra’s for a 22 – 6 half time lead.
In the second half YM reduced the lead to 22 – 9 with a penalty on 45 minutes only for Stephen Nolan to bang over a straight forward effort five minutes later.
Lurgan sealed their well deserved win with 20 minutes to go when Chris Wamsley went over following a good move up the blind side again Nolan added the extra’s and Lurgan were clear at 32 – 9.
In the final quarter YM through everything at Lurgan and initially the defence stood firm which also included a try saving one on one tackle by Kingham as he held the YM full back up over the line when a try looked certain. At this stage Lurgan found themselves down to 14 men after prop Andrew Mackey had to leave the pitch early due to injury.
YM did sneak in for a try with five minutes to go with Lurgan eventually running out of numbers in defence. The conversion was missed leaving Lurgan well deserved winners and making the long journey home worth while.
This victory will hopefully kick start Lurgan’s end of season run in and secure their top four place for next season.
Lurgan: R Clarke, C Wamsley, C Harrison, S Gardiner (Capt), J Kingham; S Nolan, C Jenks; D Whittaker, G Wickie, A Mackey, C Mallon, J Catney, A Robinson, J Pedlow, K McBride.
Lurgan and PSNI in double header
This Saturday Lurgan face PSNI at Pollock Park in Kukri Qualifying three A with four points at stake in a league double header following their game at Newforge falling foul to the bad weather bad in December.
Four points this Saturday will see Lurgan climb into the top four in 3A and it may be a case of Lurgan timing their end of season run to perfection with home games against Strabane and Monaghan still to come.
The last time the sides met was back on September when Lurgan came away with a 16 – 15 win in the Gordon West Cup and Lurgan should take plenty of confidence into this Saturday on the back of an excellent victory on the road last weekend.
Saturday’s Fixtures: Kukri Qualifying three A: Lurgan v PSNI, At Pollock Park, Kick off 2:30pm. Junior League Five: Newry II v Lurgan II, At Telford Park Newry, Kick off 2:30pm.
