| 1st XV News |
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| ARFC Membership 11/12 Season - Pay Online NOW |
01st Sept 2011 |
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Subcriptions WERE due on 01st August and Club Rules state that players whose subscriptions are unpaid, by 01st October, will not be selected.
To pay for membership online simply click on the "Pay Online" link. You will then be transferred our Membership page which will allow you to pay securely via Paypal. PAY ONLINE |
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| Instonians (24) vs City of Armagh (46) |
21 Jan 2012 |
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With City of Armagh not having a league fixture in 2012 yet it was always going to be tricky for coach, Andy Hughes, to retain match fitness within his squad. Although Armagh’s season has been a little erratic so far, the season took on a brighter complexion on New Year’s Eve when they pulled off a fine 11-0 win over Rainey in Magherafelt.
Indeed, the win, away from home and with Rainey unable to penetrate the Armagh’s defence was a very welcome tonic for the Armagh side. The stature of this win became all the more evident when we look at the fact Rainey hold... View Report |
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| Rainey OB (0) vs. City of Armagh (11) |
31st Dec 2011 |
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Saturday saw City of Armagh travel to Magherafelt to play Rainey Old Boys in the Ulster senior League. This was to be Armagh’s last game of 2011 and so far their first season since returning to senior rugby was proving to be somewhat fraught! Having failed to win a game since the October fixture with Sligo the team all knew that with the exception of the defeat against Barnhall this series of losses was due to silly errors rather than any core shortcoming within the squad.
However, with this stigma weighing heavily on the minds of all the Armagh supporters the trip to Rainey did not bode well since the Magherafelt team were lying second in the All Ireland League whereas Armagh were seen... View Report |
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| City of Armagh (03) vs Ballynahinch (22) |
17th Dec 2011 |
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It was another disappointing day at the office for City of Armagh on Saturday as they slipped to an Ulster Senior League defeat at the Palace Grounds against Ballynahinch.
The game was far from a classic on a day when free flowing rugby was missing from both sides.
Both sides were locked at 03-03 at half time but 19 unanswered points from Ballynahinch sealed their win. However the visitors were far from impressive and only managed... View Report |
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| Navan (22) vs City of Armagh (12) |
10th Dec 2011 |
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City of Armagh travelled to Navan to play their eighth game in The Ulster Bank All Ireland League. Having won two games from seven they held an almost identical league status to Navan with each team having earned thirteen points. Both teams were equally in need of league points to boost recent lacklustre match performances and both needed a victory to boost flagging team morales!
Navan kicked off with a stiffish breeze at their backs and to the intense annoyance of all the Armagh contingent the home team scored a try within... View Report |
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| City of Armagh (15) vs Boyne (16) |
03rd Dec 2011 |
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CITY OF ARMAGH coach Andy Hughes will still be wondering how his side lost this All-Ireland League match at the Palace Grounds on Saturday.
For 50 minutes the city side were in total control of the game and looked set for their third victory in the competition. The hosts were dominating every facet of play, bossing the set-piece scrums and line-outs. But the wheels came off the wagon in the last half hour of the game as Boyne emerged the narrowest of winners.
And even a losing bonus point for Armagh will be of scant consolation given there was the potential for them... View Report |
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| NUIM Barnhall (36) vs. City of Armagh (11) |
26th MOvember 2011 |
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Saturday saw City of Armagh travel into Leinster for the first time to play in the Ulster Bank All Ireland League. Their opposition was NUIM Barnhall. The game was played in the National University of Ireland Maynooth campus fields. Barnhall have a unique relationship with the university and carry on a tradition of playing one fixture per season on the University’s grounds. This game was played on the wide-open expanses of the campus with a very strong breeze blowing down the field.
Barnhall kicked off into the breeze and judging by the problems the Barnhall out-half... View Report |
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| City of Derry (37) vs City of Armagh (03) |
12th MOvember 2011 |
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Saturday saw City of Armagh First’s and Second’s both make the long trek north to Judge’s Road to play The City of Derry. The Seconds playing in the Second XV League while the respective first‘s met in the Ulster League.
The last time Armagh first’s played the ‘Derry side was in the 2008-09 season when they narrowly defeated the Armagh side but then went on to win not only the Qualifying League but also the Junior Cup and the much coveted Towns Cup!
With a 1-00pm kick-off the seconds’ game’s final whistle coincided with the main game’s kick-off. Armagh won the early... View Report |
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| Connemara (35) vs City of Armagh (20) |
05th MOvember 2011 |
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Saturday saw City of Armagh make the long trip deep into Connacht to play their fifth game in the Ulster Bank League against Connemara in Clifden.
Armagh’s form has slipped into a somewhat mediocre form recently. They headed west with two defeats from Banbridge and the ‘skin of their teeth’ win against Sligo still fresh in the back of their minds. This all made the result from this fixture all the more crucial.
The game was played on the Monastery Field in near perfect conditions with bright sunshine and a magnificent backdrop of what could only be described as breathtaking scenery.
Connemara kicked off with a slight breeze at their backs but Armagh had to contend with a bright, low sun in their eyes. Ominously, Armagh committed an error... View Report |
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| City of Armagh (20) vs Sligo (14) |
29th Oct 2011 |
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Having lost two of the recent three games played against neighbouring Banbridge, City of Armagh were keen to make amends and score some league points from this fixture especially when the home venue gave them a slight edge.
It was at Strandhill last season that Sligo narrowly beat City of Armagh in the All Ireland Junior Cup. The Armagh team were still smarting from this result and there was a certain resolution to secure a victory from this game.
The playing conditions on the Palace... View Report |
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| Banbridge XV (15) vs City of Armagh XV (0) |
22nd Oct 2011 |
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For the second consecutive Saturday City of Armagh 1st XV made the trek to Rifle Park to play their neibours, Banbridge. This time it was the Ulster Senior Cup, Quarterfinal that drew the Armagh team to the wet, windy, environs of Banbridge.
Armagh were still sore from the narrow defeat last Saturday when they played the wet & untidy game which ended 20-16. Judging from the weather conditions on Saturday anyone coming through the gates at Rifle Park knew that this game was not going to be comfortable or pretty for either players... View Report |
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| Banbridge XV (20) vs City of Armagh XV (16) |
15th Oct 2011 |
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Saturday saw City of Armagh travel to Rifle Park to play Banbridge in the Ulster Bank League. They will have to make the same journey next week to play Banbridge in the Quarter Final of the Senior Cup. Coincidentally the Club’s Seconds were playing on the adjoining pitch in the second round of the Junior Cup!
Banbridge were still smarting from City of Armagh’s 17-15 defeat in the Ulster League when they last visited Rifle Park. From their body language prior to the kick-off it was obvious they were keen to put their stamp on this fixture! It was Armagh who kicked off with a stiff breeze at their backs and with steady drizzle falling... View Report |
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| City of Armagh (52) vs Wanderers (17) |
08th Oct 2011 |
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A sublime home performance from City of Armagh on Saturday sealed their first win in the All-Ireland League. Andy Hughes’ side were ruthless against the Leinster visitors and bossed the game throughout.
Indeed such was Armagh’s dominance, they had victory and the bonus point wrapped up before half time. And a 33-03 lead at the break allowed Hughes to ring the changes in the second half, giving his entire squad vital game time.
Winger Matthew Irwin led the way for Armagh with four tries on a day when everything went to plan.
Following their 09-06 defeat to Sunday’s Well, Armagh went into the game with a point to prove.
And prove it they... View Report |
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Jottings From A Long Distance
Rugby Supporter’s Diary |
01st Oct 2011 |
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The match in Musgrave Park featured, a road journey 250 miles each way, over-priced motorway food, extortionate motorway tolls, rain that soaked through the best of waterproofs. A travelling time of at least 4 hours each way.
Was it worth it for a losing bonus point? Of course, it was just to witness the total commitment of the young Armagh side.
The consensus of the City of Armagh travelling supporters was that the welcome extended... View Report |
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| Sunday's Well XV (09) vs City of Armagh XV (06) |
01st Oct 2011 |
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Saturday saw City of Armagh make the long trek south to Musgrave Park, Cork, to play their first game in the Ulster Bank League against Sunday’s Well. The conditions were peculiar to say the least; with the ground being regularly used for the Munster senior side’s games, it was maintained to a fabulous standard. The playing surface was literally like lounge carpet, albeit a very, very slippery carpet! The weather forecast spelt heavy and continuous rain all day, for once, it was accurate to... View Report |
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| Banbridge XV (15) vs City of Armagh XV (17) |
24th Sept 2011 |
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City of Armagh 1st XV travelled to Rifle Park, on Saturday to play their neighbours, Banbridge, in their fifth game in the Ulster League. Ironically, both sides had secured six league points from four games but Banbridge had a slightly better points difference, which put them on a higher spot.
Both clubs rated this encounter as being a local derby match and it was obvious from the body language displayed by both teams as they were put through their pre-match warm up routines that they both hungered to win this fixture.
The City of Armagh team fielded two... View Report |
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| Malone (37) vs City of Armagh (23) |
17th Sept 2011 |
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Following their narrow defeat against Ballymena on Wednesday evening, City of Armagh 1st XV travelled to Gibson Park on Saturday to play their first away fixture in the Ulster League.
Armagh, having won only one of their Ulster League fixtures were, nevertheless, confident of putting on a creditable performance. The last time our side faced famous rugby names like Ballymena, Instonians and even Ards in the late nineties they were consistently suffering defeats of 60+ points... View Report |
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| City of Armagh (47) vs Ards (13) |
27th Aug 2011 |
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Saturday saw City of Armagh Rugby Club open their season by hosting Ards in their first game of the Ulster League.
There was always going to be a certain degree of apprehension hanging about the Palace Grounds since this was the first game to be played since being promoted into the senior league.
The last time these two teams met was in the 1997-98 season in The All-Ireland League when the Ards side put 40 odd points on the board against the City of Armagh team...! View Report |
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