25th February 2008

Armagh completed their home league schedule with a 31-08 win over Omagh Academicals last Friday evening at the Palace Grounds. To overtake Portadown, now at the top of the league table, is now arithmetically impossible. Armagh were anxious, nevertheless, to gain the important bonus point to gain the second-place league position. They succeeded and achieved their target by early in the second half of the game.

Since repeating last season’s record of challenging city of Derry for promotion is now all but impossible Armagh’s sights are set on silverware. In the Town’s Cup Armagh are drawn to travel to Enniskillen next Saturday in the semi-final. The recent league fixture saw Armagh emerge as unconvincing winners at 27-17. It is essential that Armagh recruits a sound, vocal band of supportes to travel to Fermanagh.

The remaining two League fixtures are against Limavady and Coleraine.

However, on 15th March we travel to Belfast to play Harlequins second fifteen in the Junior Cup, (coinciding with the England-Irish Six Nations International).

The Coleraine game has been postponed and rescheduled several times.

However, the latest is that it is to be played on March 08th, (coinciding with the Irish-Welsh Six Nations international).

On March 29th we are scheduled to travel north to Limavady for the final League game of the season.

The Powerade Towns Cup final can not yet be pencilled in but it will be at Ravenhill on Easter Monday 24th March.

Armagh were forced to make several selection changes prior to the Omagh game. In the pack Ali Birch was selected as a replacement for the Irish Colleges in their defeat of Scottish Universities. This meant that James Morton moved to open side flanker and Eddie Orr came in as No. 8. Conleth Oliver and Brian Bassett made up the second row. In the half-backs a new pairing appeared with Johnny Steenson at out-half and Andy winder at scrum-half. Stuart Lester moved from wing to full-back. The wingers were Eddie Irwin and Simon Cuttle.

The weather was dry and calm following the gale in the afternoon. Armagh’s first try was scored by Alistair Redpath who sliced through the Omagh centres to score at the posts following a line-out. Steenson then converted.

From a scrum near the half-way line Eddie Orr picked up and made a lot of ground before off-loading to James Morton who, in turn, passed to Andy Winder who scored again at the posts. This try emphasised the Armagh team’s talent in backing-up. Steenson again converted to bring the score to 14-0.

Following a minor ‘handbags’ yellow card were issued to players from both sides.

Armagh continued the pressure in the scrums and from a scrum, some five metres from the Omagh line, Steenson stormed through a gap to score again at the posts. He went on to convert to bring the score to 21-0.

Shortly afterwards Omagh kicked a penalty to bring the score to 21-03. Steven Morton then came on as replacement for James Johnston at hooker. Eddie Irwin then made a very strong run down his wing only to be bundled into touch on the Omagh 22 metre line.

A penalty to the left corner failed to result in the usual push-over so Armagh opted for a scrum from the next penalty. This also failed to produce a score so Armagh had to be content with the score at 21-03 by the half-time whistle.

Shortly after the whistle Cuttle made great ground down his wing but the next try went to Omagh. Armagh were pushing very hard for the crucial fourth try which eventually came from a line-out and drive. Joe Clarke was the scorer.

Armagh brought on sub, Richard Morton for James Morton. After a period of sustained pressure Eddie Orr broke away to score Armagh’s last try. This was un-converted and left the final score at 31-08.

The forwards controlled the game throughout by dominating both the scrums and line-outs. The backs, being somewhat disarranged, did not show their usual running lines but when at full strength will impress again.