Armagh were the big draw at Chambers Park on Saturday and walked away with the points in front of a bumper crowd. Portadown had a bright start and Chrissy Cousens slotted an early penalty to settle the nerves. The visitors slowly played their way into the game and could have had a try from a neat grubber kick only for Dermy O’Kane’s superb scramble defence. The warning signs were there and fullback McGuckin had to make a try saving tackle when the big Armagh centre looked to be clean through. The Blues couldn’t hold out forever though and patient build-up was rewarded when the visitors scored in the corner. 5-3. The Ports did respond well to falling behind but lacked the cutting edge that may have earned them a try.
Armagh had no lack of cutting edge however and the grubber kick again undid the home defence for another score. 10-3. The pattern was now a familiar one, the home side laying siege to the Armagh line after conceding. They could have had a try only for O’Kane to knock on when trying to crash over. Mercifully though a penalty had already been awarded and Cousens again did the honours. 10-6. Armagh, although impressive in attack were ragged in defence and penalties against were starting to mount up. The unerring Cousens kicking two more before half time to give the Blues a 12-10 lead at the break.
Portadown started the second half in positive fashion. John McGuckin setting the early tone with an impressive catch and counter from deep in his own half, bringing play up to the Armagh 10metre line, but, like so many Portadown attacks it led to nothing. The visitors had no such problems, their attack was ruthlessly efficient, banking seven points from their first foray into the Portadown half in the second period to lead 17-12. The Blues were playing in patches, more-often relying on flashes of individual skill and determination rather than a collective effort and Johnny Hampton showed such attributes when he broke free and won a penalty from an illegal tackle. Cousens again on target 17-15. The visitors had a chance to extend their lead from a long range penalty but missed, and when their number ten was yellow carded for a late tackle it seemed the tide was turning in Portadown’s favour.. The resultant penalty was missed however and the momentum it seemed was stalled. Indeed despite their numerical disadvantage, Armagh were next to score, and it was a real sucker punch for the Blues, suddenly trailing 24-15. The reaction was a positive one though and the Blues took full advantage of an overthrown line-out on half way to putting through several phases and releasing Olly Montels to finish a superb team score. Twelve minutes to go 24-22 and suddenly the win looked possible. Armagh however had other ideas and when they were awarded a penalty deep in Portadown territory they opted to kick to the corner instead of the posts. A catch and drive from the resultant lineout was held-up and it seemed perhaps they had made the wrong choice, but when awarded yet another penalty they again opted to kick for the corner and this time they pushed over for a match winning score. Final result 31-22.
