Armagh rugby suffered a rare defeat on Saturday and even managed to avoid a bonus point when they visited Clogher on Saturday. Sadly, the retention of the qualifying league now looks less than likely. There is surely a lot of catching up to be done, especially since Portadown and Cooke seem to be performing well at the top of the table.
The unfortunate thing seems to be that Armagh have been deprived of games for the past four weeks due to various circumstances. Wins, with bonus points, were required to bring the City side back into contention meaning that Saturday’s result was all the more disappointing. However, Armagh’s next two home fixtures against Cooke and Portadown are all the more crucial.
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The four week break from competition meant that some young players were brought into the side for the fist time, whilst others were returning after injury.
When all things were taken together, Armagh faced Clogher with a massive disadvantage.
On the field & on the day the strong diagonal breeze favoured the home side in the first half.
Clogher quickly took the lead with a try from their three-quarters, converted to give them a 07-0 lead.
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Stuart Lester Scores In The Corner For Amragh |
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Johnny Steenson missed a penalty but Armagh kept up the pressure, with good control of the ball on the ground. The teams swapped penalties to bring the score to 10-03 and Steenson showed his value with a long touch kick when valley had Armagh under some sustained pressure in their corner.
Armagh then hit back with their only try of the game. A good forward drive down the left allowed Andy Winder to feed Adam Gowing who then passed to Stuart Lester who had come into the line off his left wing. Lester showed his speed when he cut through for a fine try. Steenson’s conversion from far out and into a considerable wind was equally good to bring the score to 10-10. Sadly for Armagh it was to be their highest point of the game. Clogher kept up their attack and Lester saved things with a long clearance kick, while Ethan Allen put in a great tackle in midfield.
Second row Brian Bassett was handling and running well while James Morton was controlling the line-outs admirably. To be level at half-time and with the wind advantage Armagh appeared to be in a strong position.
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A Dejected Armagh Side After The Final Whistle
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Out-half Gowing was wide with a drop-goal attempt early in the second half and Joe Clarke was yellow-carded but Clogher failed to capitalise in his absence.
When he returned to the field Eddie Orr came on for Ally Birch, thus giving Armagh a changed back row with James Morton moving back to wing-forward.
From a Clogher line-out the ball was moved across to the other wing for Clogher’s second try to give the lead back to the home team at 15-10.
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Their third try came from a scrum on the Armagh line and it was converted. So at 22-10 both sides were still involved. Clogher were keen to get a bonus point from a forth try while Armagh were anxious to close the gap to get their bonus point.
A dangerous tackle on James Morton gave Armagh a penalty but it ended up as touch in the goal area. Clogher then had a second row forward yellow-carded but Armagh did not benefit. An Armagh penalty down to the corner did not produce the catch and drive which they usually can draw points from.
James Johnston was replaced by Stephen Morton at hooker in the closing minutes of the game.
Clogher proved, yet again, that they are a very difficult side to beat at home, but as Armagh have home advantage for the next two league fixtures the will be in the driving seat.
Team; B. Patterson, J. Johnston, M. Hopps, B. Bassett, D. Martin, J. Clarke, A. Birch, J. Morton, (Captain), A. Winder, A. Gowing, S. Lester, E. Allen, P. Elliot, J. Allen, J. Steenson, Subs: S. Morton, E. Orr.
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