Saturday saw Armagh entertain UUColeraine at The Palace Grounds in the quarterfinal of the Junior Cup. The game was sponsored by Hewitt Meats and it was great to see a sponsor as enthusiastic as Jim Hewitt enjoy thePalace Grounds atmosphere. At the pre-match lunch, it was particularly warming to welcome Gareth Steenson back to Armagh where he learnt his phenomenal rugby skills while attending the Royal School. Gareth currently plays out-half for Exeter chiefs in the English Premiership League where, until recently, he was leading points scorer in the premier league.
UUC were seen as ‘The New Kids on the Block’ as far as a rugby reputation was concerned. In rugby circles there has, up to recently, only been one rugby university in the province. This has taken the form of Queens University. Who and what was this UUC side? They had won the qualifying 3 league in 08-09 and were now seen to be sitting mid-table in qualifying two League. This was not a bad reputation for a club, which was never even heard of in rugby circles five seasons ago! Mind you, a couple of Armagh stalwarts had been recruited and moved north to help with the campaign in the form of Andy Winder and Alan Whitcroft. Unfortunately the Armagh supporters were deprived the chance of seeing these ex-pats play as they had both picked up injuries and were confined to the touchline.
The Armagh team was unusually poorly supported with a sparse crowd on the touchline due to the fact that the Investec Home International game was televised and coincided with the local encounter. However, the conditions were perfect with no breeze as the home game kicked-off.
Within five minutes Armagh’s centre, Andy Holmes, broke through the student’s defence and scored in the right corner. Johnny Steenson converted to make the score 7-0. Only five minutes later Johnny Steenson scored in exactly the same spot. He failed to convert but the scoreboard now showed a 12-0 advantage to the home team. Only two minutes later saw the visitors kick a penalty to bring the score to 12-3. Five minute later Armagh’s winger, Johnny Allen, was yellow-carded for trying to stop his ‘Uni opposite number after he had kicked ahead. With fourteen players on the field Armagh felt the pressure as the students continued to attack from all angle with the finest display of open rugby seen on the Palace Grounds for years! This display was interrupted hen Armagh were penalized for a rucking offence in front of their own posts. The kick brought the score to 12-6 sadly the last time UUC were to score.
When Johnny Allen returned Armagh started to show their real quality when a Matty Wright break led to a fine try when Andy Holmes scored. The conversion, unfortunately, went wide to make the score 17-6. The Armagh pack then scored a push-over try with the local hooker, James Johnston, claiming the touch-down. The conversion brought the half-time score to 24-6.
The second half started off with prop-forward, Brian Bassett, scoring and Steenson converting to bring the score to 31-6. After another ten minutes play, Andy Holmes, was subbed off and Peter Elliott moved out of the pack with Phill Hill coming into the pack. Almost immediately, Player/coach, Andy Hughes scored a breakaway try to make the score 36-6. The final try as scored by Brian Bassett with the conversion finishing the scoring at 43-6.
The young university team never did give up and continued to both defend and attack right up to the final whistle. Granted, they never once crossed the Armagh line but they did present a real threat for the full eighty minutes.
Next week sees the team with a blank fixture. A week off will enable the injured players a chance to get back on to the training field in preparation for the trip to Sligo for the quarter-final fixture in the All-Ireland Junior Cup.
