24th December 2007

Armagh celebrated Christmas early by travelling to Dungannon on Friday evening and winning the Past Players Cup. They soundly defeated the home side when scoring three spectacular tries and only permitting Dungannon to score one penalty. So Armagh, having achieved league domination last season, are now intent on making this season a cup winning season!

It should be remembered that the Past Players Cup, in its present form is competed for by the previous season’s Qualifying League winners and the 2nd Xv League winners. Armagh last won this trophy in 1977 so the win was particularly sweet on a frosty, foggy evening in Stevenson Park.

So Dungannon fielded their second fifteen and Armagh looked forward to fielding their full first fifteen. However, their hopes were dashed when none of the regular front row were available.

So it was hugely to their credit that these three players fitted into the team structure so well.

The thick fog which spoiled the early part of the game tended to drift away and was to some extent replaced by the clouds of steam rising from the scrums! The home side started very strongly and five minutes elapsed with Armagh failing to get out of their half!

However, Armagh did score their first points when Johnny Steenson kicked a penalty from far out then followed up with a second penalty to give Armagh a 06-0 lead. Steenson had to rescue his side when a pass back sailed under his posts leaving him to dash back, collect the ball, and save the situation with a beautiful touch-kick.

Dungannon kicked a penalty in font of the Armagh posts. Armagh put a penalty into the corner but failed to take the line-out, for once. However, from the next line-out good three-quarter play by Chris Black, Johnny Allen sent Ethan Allen over for the first try. It was not converted but 11-3 was a comfortable and deserved half-time score.

More confident now Armagh began the second half well. A strong run down the right wing by Stuart Lester ended in touch just short of the line, but Armagh’s wingers combined very well for Johnny Allen to send Lester in for Armagh’s second try. The conversion went wide, as was a Dungannon penalty attempted but 16-3 was a comfortable lead for the visitors.

The final Armagh try was, predictably enough, a solo effort from Johnny Allen. He rounded his opposite winger to touch down at the Dungannon posts.

This was converted to leave the score at 23-points to 03.

Johnny Steenson made a brilliant break down the centre leaving the Dungannon centres for dead.

He off-loaded to his support after a 60 metre run but the defence managed to push attack into touch.

While the actual scoring was achieved by the backs the Armagh forwards contributed to the win admirably. The line-outs were dominated by Eddie Orr. The defensive work, in cutting off the frequent Dungannon attacks, was impeccable.

The team looked, for once looked to be playing as a cohesive unit. The forwards were feeding the backs who then combined to generate try-scoring situations.

After the game the cup, a fine bit of silverware, was presented to the Armagh captain, James Morton, by Ulster Branch President David Workman.