Armoy travelled to Strabane on saturday knowing that a win would nudge them a step closer to winning the Minor league North. Understandably there were a few nerves on the road down to Strabane but once the refereee blew for kick off any sign of these nerves were gone as the Armoy pack put instant pressure on Strabane forcing a penalty which was cooly converted by Jarvis Traynor.
Strabane then came out of the traps and put Armoy under pressure and from a series of good rucks by their forwards were awarded a penalty inside the Armoy 22. their quick thinking scrum half took a quick tap and released the ball out to the backs and with the Armoy defence caught of gaurd crashed over into the corner for a try. The conversion from their out half Maxi,who is usually very reliable, strayed wide.
Again from their own kick off Armoy put Strabane under pressure and forced a penalty which was slotted over by Jarvis. There then followed a spell of play with neither team making any real headway.
The next score of the match was to come from an Armoy scrummage just inside their own half.The ball was fed down the back line out to winger Richard Bartlett who broke a tackle to race in for a score the conversion attempt sailed wide.
From the resultant kick off the Strabane pack forced Armoy back and won possesion but were continually thwarted by a tight Armoy defence who were switched on after their earlier shortcomings.
It was now Armoys turn to put on the pressure and again it resulted in more points for the visitors. A great burst through the Strabane backline from Armoy centre Sammy McMullan led to a ruck just short of the 22. The ball was fed out to no 8 Stevie Bartlett who fell just short odf the line with 3 Strabane players hanging onto him. Strabane were penalised for the tacklers not releasing and jarvis kicked the penalty.
Half Time StabaneII 5 Armoy 14
Into the second half and this time Strabane did to Armoy what they had had done to them in the initial match kick off. Great follow up play from their number 8 led to a series off errors from Armoy which resulted in a penalty which was converted succesfully.
Again though they failed to capitlalise as Armoy then came at them with a wave of good attacking play and were again awarded a penalty for tacklers not releasing and players going off their feet at ruck time. Again the reliable boot of Jarvis kicked another 3 points.
Armoy now had the game by the scruff of the neck and were not going to let it slip. With ill disipline from Strabane creeping into their play through desparation Armoy were getting every decision from the ref.
Armoy had Strabane penned into their 22 but after Armoy were penalised for coming in from the side a Strabane player took a quick tap and raced though the gaps that had been left by Armoy. However Armoy outhalf Barry Kelly was alert and caught the wee man from Strabane and ripped the ball clean. He then fed it out to winger Richard Bartlett who had and easy run down the wing and under the posts for his second try.Converted by Jarvis.
Strabne to their credit did not let their heads go down and had the better of the closing stages during which the converted another penalty and were unlucky not to score a try with the last play of the match.
Final score Strabane II 11 Armoy 24
