The Ulster Junior Cup does look comfortable in the Armagh trophy cabinet but its retention isn’t really the main target of the Current Armagh season. This year, the Armagh team are well and truly focused on returning to senior rugby after thirteen years playing in the Qualifying Leagues.
With this in mind the Armagh contingent of loyal supporters descended on Gibson Park to find a very sparse couple of Malone followers supporting their side. The game kicked-off and within three minutes the Armagh scrum-half, Mattie Wright, broke away and scored between the posts. Adam Gowing, recently returned from his Canadian vacation, converted to make the score 0-7.
The Malone answer was to pin Armagh in their ‘22’ for ten minutes. This pressure was relieved only when the home out-half attempted a drop-goal which almost hit the corner flag! However, Armagh were penalised for diving into a ruck right in front of their posts which saw the score move to 3-7. On the re-start the Armagh side stamped their authority on the game by sending James Morton over for a fine try, which adam Gowing converted bringing the score to 3-14. Armagh’s left winger, Irwin, back after a long injury spell almost went in for a fine try only to stray into touch. The Malone forwards were much heavier than the Armagh pack but the visitors were able to win several scrums against the head and were also able to dominate the line-outs. Unfortunately both the Malone prop forwards were injured and the number three was forced to leave the field. The Armagh handling had improved by leaps and bounds from last Saturday’s display when the ball was dropped continuously. Today the backs were seen to pass the ball accurately and were able to cut through the home defence. This was ably illustrated when centre, Mike Hooks, scored a fine try which was converted to bring the score to 3-21. This was followed almost immediately when Armagh’s right winger, Faloon, scored in the corner. The conversion brought the score to 3-28. Gowing now was on 100% kicking score in the first half.
The second half started off with the Armagh’s number 8, Johnny Clarke, forcing his way over for a try. The conversion went wide to bring the score to 3-35. By this stage the visiting side dominating all areas but after some ten minutes play after the break they appeared to become complacent and let the Malone pack get settled. The Belfast forwards set off with a rolling maul down the left wing for some twenty metres and eventually scored in the corner. The conversion went wide to making the score 8-35. Armagh’s prop, Andrew Morton, went off injured, and was replaced by Smith.
The urgency appeared to disappear from the game and only when James Morton broke free and scored at the posts which Gowing duly converted bringing the score to 8-42 did the Armagh supporters become vocal again! The Malone team’s discipline appeared to fall by the wayside and the Referee was seen to have several long conversations with the hooker!
Armagh kept upping the pressure with full-back, Luneau, scoring at the posts. Gowing attempted to drop-kick the conversion but it went wide! The score went to 8-47. The last try was scored by winger, Irwin, topping the score at 8-52.
This was not a rewarding victory but only convinced all present that senior rugby side’s second fifteens are well adrift of the pace, fitness and skill levels to be found in the junior sides nowadays. This is ably demonstrated by the scores Armagh have been able to rack up against Ballymena, Banbridge and now Malone. These are, indeed, hollow victories and do not really reflect any standing when the Qualifying League fixtures are scheduled to re-start next week when Portadown travel to The Palace Grounds for the local derby game on Saturday.
Team: 1: A. Morton, 2: P. Lambe. 3: B. Patterson 4: W. Martin 5: P. Hill 6: J. Clarke 7: J. Morton 8: J. Clarke 9: M. Wright 10: A. Gowing 11: E. Irwin 12:A. Holmes 13:M. Hooks 14: J. Faloon 15: A. Luneau.16: A. Smith. 17 : B. McConnell.
LOCAL DERBY @THE PALACE GROUNDS
Rugby fans will be focusing on the local derby match when Portadown travel to Armagh for the match of the day.
With the Ulster team playing away in Edinburgh on Friday evening this will, undoubtedly, be the match of the week-end. Forget All-Ireland rugby. Forget Irish league soccer. The fixture at The Palace Grounds will surely be the sporting event to watch. Be there at 2-30 pm and see some really spectacular sport
