U18 v Armagh RFC
By John Kennedy
Captain’s performance from Jack Hampton inspires his side to victory #SmallTownBigDreams
RRFC Youth U18’s 31 v 7 City of Armagh RFC
Randalstown’s U18 side came into this fixture off the back of two straight wins in the knowledge that despite their victories, including last weeks impressive win on the road v Ballynahinch, they hadn’t quite hit top gear yet. With this in mind that was the focus for this fixture against a physical Armagh side coming to Town confident of their chances.
With stalwart tighthead Ben Worsley unfortunately carrying an injury forcing him to drop to the bench and some players still carrying knocks the squad depth was going to be tested early in the season. With Gay moving across the front row to cover 3, Sean O’Rawe’s form in training and in covering winger in previous matches earning him a starting 6 jersey and Peter Longwell coming in for his first start at 9 for the season coaches were very confident in their players ability to adapt and perform – faith very well placed with what followed.
The previous two games coaches have expressed concern and frustration on their sides slow starts and unfortunately this pattern continued with a knock-on straight from KO conceding possession immediately. From the scrum Armagh applied some immediate pressure with a foray into the Town 22, recycling the ball with efficiency until what’s becoming a trade-mark Ryan O’Dea hit effecting a turn-over. Town ourselves have a dynamic back-row of our own and great clean-out work from O’Rawe, Carey and O’Dea provided lively scrum-half Peter Longwell with good quality ball the entire duration of the match.
Such clean ball provided the basis for Town’s first score with great ball to McCaw putting the dangerous Stuart Dempster into space breaking 2 tackles to break into the Armagh half before missing full-back Michael O’Connell and Josh Henry to release the pace of Paul Johnston out wide before being brought down inside Armagh’s 22. With Conor Doran and Patrick Mitchell securing possession Longwell fed McCaw who missed Dempster this time to find O’Connell, running a phenomenal line from 15, to set his man and release Henry, drawing 2 men putting Malachy McIvor into space on the right wing. McIvor still had plenty to do stepping his opposite number before beating Armagh’s full-back for pace before dotting down in the corner. A genuinely phenomenal team try and one that gave no little pleasure to the watching coaches. MOC went very close with the difficult touch-line conversion. 5-0 Town.
As the half went on the game became a bit more attritional with Armagh’s pack coming more and more into it exerting some physical pressure in the scrum and at the breakdown. As such every Town player had to be committed in tackle and at the breakdown, tasks which were more often than not completed with aggression and accuracy. When we did get quick ball the mobile pack were able to gain enough ground to give their dangerous backline the smallest of gaps in which to fire through. MOC, McIvor and Johnston looked incredibly threatening each and every time they had balll in hand, always gaining ground and work very well together as the back-3 unit. Johnston in particular was unlucky not to score leaving his opposite number dead in the water before stepping three would be tacklers only being stopped short of the Armagh 22 by a desperate attempt by their openside flanker.
It wasn’t long however before Town added to the score-line, following some great tight work by Hampton and Gay, the ball was taken on by the lively Carey, having another barn-storming match, who offloaded to our very own Stevie Ferris, Ryan O’Dea drawing 2 defenders and going to ground. Carey and Hampton clearing the breakdown before Shea McLaughlin gained another 10yards with a powerful drive. This great work by the pack sucked in the Armagh pack leaving the back-line full of gaps expertly spotted by fly-hallf McCaw. Taking a flat pass McCaw created pace in his backline drawing a perfect dummy run from both O’Connell and Dempster intelligently drawing their opponents before releasing Henry with a perfectly timed and waited flat pass. Henry’s run flat-footed teh Armagh backline and with both McIvor and Johnston running support lines causing chaos in Armagh’s defence. Henry’s pace and delicious step making the try somewhat inevitable placing the ball down between the posts making the conversion a formality for a kicker of O’Connells’ calibre. Hear me now, believe me later a better worked try you won’t see the rest of the season.
Once again the cliche of conceding straight from the KO rang true and against the run of play a turnover by the Armagh forwards allowed their winger to score under the posts following a few slipped tackles.
This moment was what sparked the Town pack into life. Although up to this point the packs were about even the Town forwards decided they’d dominate and set about not allowing Armagh the ball. Every set-piece was contested with Doran’s intelligence at set-piece coming to the fore, although not every ball was turned over Armagh was starved of clean fast ball and just couldn’t put together any sustained phases of possession or pressure. Much credit must go to the entire line-out for this, with Doran marshalling and Carey also making a nuisance of himself credit must also go to the lifters McLaughlin, Gay, Mitchell and O’Rawe who worked tirelessly at set-piece much to their forwards coaches delight.
From the next lineout in Armagh territory the forwards took good clean ball and set up a maul for which Armagh had no answer, driving further into Armagh territory stopping just short of the try line….seeing a gap Longwell broke and dowve for the line getting held up just short……McCaw spotting the gap Longwell created sprinted and O’Rawe popped the ball up for Shinty to finish off with a try, again MOC adding the conversion just before the half-time whistle.
With O’Dea carrying a slight knock Adair entered the fray for the first time this season and immediately set about picking up where Ryan left off with some brutal tackles and barn-storming runs.
The second half continued as the first left off with Town in the ascendancy making regular forays into Armagh territory. It wasn’t long before Town got another score. With Armagh unable to retain their own ball the Town pack kept delivering Longwell and McCaw good quality ball both in retention and turn-overs. From such a ball in Town’s 22 Johnston and McIvor in tandem got Town past the half-way, Carey taking ball on from the breakdown releasing Hampton to charge forward. As Town rumbled farther into the Armagh half panic spread as McCaw marshalled and organised his attacking line distracting the Armagh defence allowing Peter Longwell to scamper home from the 22 touching the ball down despite the best efforts of 2 Armagh defenders. A great score for Longwell’s first try in Town colours. MOC as expected converted with ease.
With an hour on the clock the game became a little ill-tempered with Armagh’s frustrations coming to the fore. Following a second break-away try for Josh Henry in which he side-stepped another few players some ill-tempered and unsporting language from one of the Armagh players forced a conversation between the referee, captain, offending player and Armagh’s coaching team after which Armagh’s coach removed his side from the field of play somewhat against the spirit of the game. The spectacle from the far side of the pitch didn’t stop O’Connell from giving the touch-line conversion a good effort narrowly missing which is to his great credit as the Armagh players decided to choose that moment to walk off the field.
Not the circumstances in which anyone would’ve wished the game to finish especially given the great running rugby on display from both sides. Armagh will be a match for any side and we know we’re going to have a very tough return fixture later in the season. Credit must go to the entire Armagh side for the rugby that they played on the day scoring a wonderful try themselves.
Last word must however go to the Town side who displayed pace and power throughout. McCaw marshalling his backline with confidence, maturity and intelligence, Michael O’Connell and Stuart Dempster with their constant running creating gaps both with ball in and out of hand, Peter Longwell for a dominant game at 9 and bagging a well taken try, Conor Doran for dominating the set-piece and leading that line, Stephen Carey, Shea McLaughlin & Paddy Mitchell for their constant work around the park putting in the hard yards, Curtis Gay for putting in a real shift at 3 in an unfamiliar position and Jack Hampton for putting in another true captains performance leading from the front.
With so many players putting in fantastic performances MOTM was a difficult pick this week but all coaches agreed that none were more deserving than Josh Henry who was a constant threat in attack, kept his calm and composure to score two tries, the first of which a contender for try of the season already, and his effort in defence leading the defensive line and making every tackle asked of him including a try-saving effort in the first half.
In summary much to work on but plenty of positives from the day’s work. What especially pleased the coaching team were the performances of each and every player further confirming just how strong the squad depth is this season with each player putting their hands up for a starting jersey each and every week. Plenty of competition for jerseys for the forthcoming season, no matter who’s filling the starting numbers rugby is the ultimate squad game with different matches requiring different combinations on the pitch this squad of players will be a match for whoever we meet.
The boys are on the road next week with a tough fixture vs Virginia away from home. Any travelling support would be greatly appreciated.
#LetTheBoysPlay
1. Shea McLaughlin; 2. Jack Hampton (c); 3. Curtis Gay; 4. Conor Doran; 5. Patrick Mitchell; 6. Sean O’Rawe; 7. Stephen Carey; 8. Ryan O’Dea; 9. Peter Longwell; 10. Matthew McCaw; 11. Paul Johnston; 12. Stuart Dempster; 13. Josh Henry; 14. Malachy McIvor; 15. Michael O’Connell; 16. Ryan Magill; 17. Ben Worsley; 18. John Adair; 19. James Murphy; 20. Scott McClay; 21. Colm Griffin; 22. Aaron Steele
Coaches: Mark Hermin; Aine Doran; Garry Irwin; Adam Service; John Kennedy
