04th April 2008

Armagh rugby moved a step closer to their anticipated cup treble when they defeated Ballymena seconds in the quarter-final of the Junior League cup at the Palace Grounds last Saturday.

After reaching a lead of 36-6 with their fifth try Armagh relaxed and permitted the opposition to run in two tries. However, the result means a home semi-final next Saturday, with the opposition, Ballymoney, having to travel to the Palace Grounds. It should be remembered that Ballymoney won the away league fixture 22-15 in December past. Armagh, however, have lost only one game since then, (to Navan in the AIB All-Ireland Cup). The team is now showing such confident form that a defeat against Ballymoney seems highly unlikely.

Saturday’s game uncovered another favour in Armagh’s favour. The home pack laboured and was unable to illustrate its usual superiority both in line-outs and scrums. The team now has the capacity to switch their attacks to the nimble back-line. It should also be noted that Armagh were unable to field a full strength side and that Ballymoney went down 18-0. Interesting to note Armagh’s points so far this season reads 746 for and 243 against!

In the forwards Brian McConnell came in at tight head prop for Melvyn Hopps. An interesting switch had Ralf Mercer return to his old position at scrum-half, so allowing Johnny Allen to move out to the wing, his slot in the centre being filled by Sam Sheppard.

A very stiff wind favoured Armagh in the first half which helped the home side secure all the early attacking possession. Ballymena, however were the first to score when they kicked a penalty in the ninth minute of play. The home side hit back when Johnny Steenson was late tackled and kicked the resultant penalty to level the scores.

James Morton linked with Brian Bassett to make good ground up the centre but failed to complete the move. Stuart Lester went for an interception but knocked on. The visitors then kicked a penalty to ring the score to 06-03.

Armagh were awarded a penalty which Steenson kicked into the left corner. Untypical the resultant line-out drive failed to provide a try and it took a further penalty kick into the same corner to yield the first home try. This was surprisingly scored by winger, Johnny Allen. The tricky wind made the conversion too tricky for Johnny Steenson but for the first time in the game Armagh had taken the lead with the score at 08-06.

Armagh’s centre Sheppard touched down at the posts only to find that the referee had blown up play. Stuart Lester then made a break and flicked the ball inside to scrum half, Ralf Mercer, who went in for his first try at the posts. Steenson converted to give Armagh a half-time lad of 15-06.

The second half started with Mercer picked up a loose ball 30 metres out and sprinted in to score at the posts. He followed this up with what must be the most spectacular try seen at the Palace Grounds this season. He ran in the try from well inside his own half with the resulting conversion giving Armagh a comfortable 29-06 lead.

Mercer then made a break down the left wing and fed the ball to lock, David Martin, but the Ballymena defence held firm. Chris Black, however, put in a fine run to score at the posts. The conversion brought the score to 36-06.

Ballymena responded with their first try, although the game was slipping away from them. They quickly repeated by scoring their second. The conversion was spoiled when the ball toppled over and the kick was charged down by Johnny Allen bringing the score to 36-18 Hooker, James Johnston, was then replaced by Steven Morton.

The Armagh forwards failed to dominate proceedings and the try-scoring had to be left to the backs, and very well they responded! It was very interesting to have Ralf Mercer t scrum-half where he contributed many tries to Armagh in the past.