Qualifying League Two Omagh 31 v Letterkenny 5
A hat trick of tries by Neil Browne saw Omagh claim a bonus point win over a plucky Letterkenny outfit and secure top spot in Qualifying League Two at Christmas. Never a classic encounter, the home side had too much all round ability for the Co. Donegal men, though it took a rollicking by coach, phil marshall, at half time to spur them on to secure the bonus point.
“We switched off for 20 minutes after a good start, were waiting for men to hit us rather than meeting them in the tackle and were not as committed at the breakdown as we could have been”, he revealed referring to the second part of the first in half when Omagh took their foot of the gas after opening up an early 17-0 lead.
“The lads responded well, increased their intensity, upped the tempo and go the tries we deserved”, he added. This is where the Accies shad wanted to be at this part of the season, and while no-one at Thomas Mellon Playing Fields will be resting on their laurels, they are in a health position though there is much work left to do. 
Recent conditions forced Omagh to play on their training pitch and they began the game playing downhill. The side showed a couple of changes with kyle alexander coming in for Stephen Rutledge and Andrew Ferguson answering a late call to slot in on the openside flank.
Richard Smyth sparked the action with a typical barnstorming break from a scrum with Mark Smyth taking a pop pass at some pace as the Accies began the game with gusto. The move came to nothing as a handling error stopped the momentum though Letterkenny failed to clear the ball sufficiently and the home side were awarded a penalty just inside the 22 for offside minutes later. David Ward dispatched the first of five successful kicks to take the lead 3-0.
The visitors responded with plenty of possession and recycled well moving the ball across the park though solid defence repelled any chance of a score, and at times in the first period it looked like an attach versus defence training session with considerable amounts of the game played in midfield.
A planned move from the scrum saw Omagh take the lead albeit somewhat fortunately. Smyth and Ferguson linked well from the scrum and with charging captain, Mervyn Edgar, screaming for the pass, the ball was popped to him. Letterkenny got a hand on this and tapped back on their side and as they attempted to counter-attack, Browne stepped in to intercept and show the defence a clean pair of heels to touch down with Ward doing the honours with the conversion.
Browne then showed considerable pace in sticky conditions to chase through a lovely weighted grubber through by Stuart McCain, hack through and had enough nous, awareness around him to steer the ball over the line and fall on it to register his second. Ward added a fine conversion from the wrong side of the pitch.
The rest of the half was played in the Omagh half with Letterkenny throwing everything they had at the home side but with solid, organised defence and a lack of cutting edge, stalemate occurred.
The visitors lost their hooked with uncontested scrums resulting, possibly favouring the visitors who were further hindered with an injury to a winger as the half ended. The Donegal men turned down a couple of kickable penalties in their attempts to register a deserved try but were denied as the half petered out to a turgid end.
Half time 17-0.
Marshall’s’ instructions were clear and with his steely words still ringing in their ears, they started the second period with conviction and added desire. An early incursion into the visitors 22 looked to bear little reward with the ball being moved well from half backs, Alistair Ferguson and Jamie Lagan, but a few too many wrong decisions denied the home side. Eventually with the visitors tiring, the Accies extended their lead.
Stephen Giboney touched down minutes later from a pop pass from Ferguson close in after initial inroads were made through a bullocking run by Edgar. Ward added the conversion.
Eventually with the visitors tiring, Browne was fed the ball on their right wing on the overlap and the rangy centre made no mistake to register his hat-trick try. Ward added the conversion and finished with a 100% record in another good afternoon for the rangy fullback. With a “Kevin Pietersen” type haircut he certainly stands out in the Accies backline but can time a rugby ball like the formers timing of a cricket ball, and certainly added to the Accies offensive and defensive weaponry with his left peg.
Letterkenny refused to give up though and after second row, John Sproule, was shown the yellow card, the referee somewhat generously awarded them a try from close in, but in reality, it was no more than their efforts and endeavours throughout the game, deserved. The conversion was missed.
With another visitor picking up a knock, and Omagh well on top, the referee blew up for the Accies to secure the bonus point win and return to winning ways.
With the rare feat of a hat-trick of tries at this level rare, Browne was the man of the match, though the platform was set up by the pack and though Omagh looked good on the counter-attack through McFarland and Ward, they never got out of fourth gear and will need to up their game after Christmas if they are to challenge for league honours.
Nevertheless, you have to beat the side you play against and the Accies did this and achieved their target of bring top at Christmas, and though other sides are unbeaten and others didn’t play on Saturday, they are in a strong position from which to launch an assault on the title next year.
Team: David Ward, Stephen MacLain, Neil Browne, Stuart McClain, Andy McFarland, Jamie Lagan, Alistair Ferguson, kyle alexander, Stephen Giboney, Mark Smyth, John Sproule, Johnny Giboney, Mervyn Edgar ©, Andrew Ferguson, Richard Smyth
