Omagh 3s returned to action on Saturday against a Ballynahinch side they were unlucky not to turn over in the corresponding away fixture earlier in the season. With the weather keeping mud from the boots for six weeks Omagh were definitely rusty taking to the pitch on Saturday. Playing up the hill in the first half Omagh took the game to the young Ballynahinch side looking to bully them at rucks and mauls, however the referee would be the deciding factor in early engagements as he was too happy to blow the whistle early to allow either team to gain any traction. A strong run from Keith Givens playing at outside centre saw him surge into the Ballynahinch half, where Omagh were duly awarded a questionable penalty which Andy Armstrong slotted over to calm first half nerves. Omagh then went on the offensive strong runs from Brady and Givens in the centre kept the Ballynahinch line honest and with Dean Porter flying off the back of the rucks Omagh had a single attack in the Ballynahinch 22’ with Dean Porter getting the touchdown. Andy Armstrong slotted the conversion to leave it 10-0 with 25 to go in the half. Ballynahinch then got a head of steam up, looking to release their young backline they probed Omagh’s defences and while tackling was solid Omagh gave away far too many penalties at ruck time which kept them pinned in their own 22’ allowing Ballynahinch a penalty and converted try to leave the half 10-10 and some ill feeling as to how this was happening after dominating early exchanges. Strong words concerning discipline dominated the half time team talk; Omagh could not lose and blame the six-week break. Starting the second half a huge tackle from Joe Reid who continues to grow into the six shirt gave Omagh the ball from a scrum right from the start and for the next 30 minutes they would batter the Ballynahinch line. With Keith ‘Maori Side Step’ Givens and Andy Brady linking up well it would be some fine continuity play between Todd and Harpur linking up down the blindside with Jason Gallen that unlocked the Ballynahinch defence. Sucking in would be tacklers Dean McConnell fed the ball to Andrew Armstrong who threw a sublime pass to the returning Andrew Brady for fine score to the left of the posts. Andrew Armstrong slotted the conversion and Omagh where in the ascendancy, the Omagh pack now dominated the set piece with the front row stealing five scrums and the lineout now clicking Ballynahinch could not get out of their 22’.The back three of Chris Bradley, Jason Gallen and David Clarke running back every ball the ‘hinch’ tried to clear. A stolen lineout allowed a drive from 5 meters out with Joe Reid crashing over, and a strike against the head by Simon Monteith shocked the away team allowing number Eight Dean Porter to go over for his second try to leave the score 27-16 with 10 minutes to go. Omagh then unfortunately relaxed and allowed Ballynahinch to run at them, their backs fizzing after finally getting some ball in the half. Their left wing making a fine break into Omagh’s 22’ to set up a score for his forward support. This left the score 27-21 with four minutes to go and Omagh did very well to hang on to the final whistle. Despite the poor first half performance Omagh blew away their opposition in the second half, strong performances from Andrew Armstrong, Dean Porter and Keith Givens pushed the team forward, and a fine scrummaging display from Peter Todd and Shane McLaughlin provided the platform to allow those players to spring forward. Omagh 3’s welcome Instonian 3’s to Thomas Mellon playing fields and will look for a full 80 minute performance this Saturday.
