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| Armagh 1st XV (73) vs Ards 2nd XV (0) |
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01st September 2009
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The first Junior Cup match in the new format took place in dry but cold conditions – August and most of the spectators were wearing coats and hats. However the conditions did not have any bearings on the way Armagh approached the game. From the outset it was clear that the home team wanted to progress against their County Down rivals.
And progress was swift. In the first minute Adam Gowing just missed taking a loose ball on way to line but after some swift passing and reorganising of the line Jamie Cornett went over for his first try of the season.
The conversion was sent over by Jonny Steenson to make it 07-0. The restart had hardly given the spectators time to blink but Armagh wanted to prove their dominance and with coherent and swift passing into safe hands they saw Andrew Willis score the second try in as many minutes.
Again converted by Steenson to make it 14-0. And those two players combined in a different manner again when a pass from Steenson to Willis saw Andrew go over for his 2nd of the match the home teams third. Jonny put on his kicking boots and slotted over his third straight kick of the match.
The forwards had been combining well in both the scrum and the line out to ensure that the three-quarter and centres had lots of ball to work with. Ards tried valiantly to get themselves into the game but a blistering run from Armagh shocked them and was only stopped by a slip of the hands and an unfortunate forwards pass.
This gave Ards a glimmer of hope and they used it, making a run up the line. But Armagh were not to be denied and an excellent tackle stopped the Ards runner in his tracks. This impetus saw Ards setting up some good attacks for the next period but again J Steenson ran through Ards tackles to score at right at the posts.
Walking back from his score he set the ball and made his conversion to take to scoreline to 28 without reply.
James Morton caught and excellent line out ball and passed to Stephen Morton who relayed an excellent ball to send Matthew Irwin in for a try which was easily converted by Steenson.
Quick reforming of the start up saw Armagh again ready fro whatever Ards could throw at them and with some more good passing from the scrum to the backs saw Jonny Allen go in for his first try. With another conversion safely over the referee called for half time.
6 tries in the first had set a precedent for the waiting crowds and the match restarted with a shock when tempers raised and gave Ards a penalty which they duly put down to the corner but the unstoppable Willis crossed the field to stop it.
But Ards did not give up and used the lapse in Armagh's concentration to build up a successful series of moves. It was at this stage the Armagh bench made their first change and Andy Hughes came on for Joe Clarke. However the lapse in concentration continued and Armagh conceded another soft penalty.
However, the back row combined to collect the ball safely and Jonny Steenson used his boot to place the ball safely in the oppositions 22. With an excellent bounce the line out went to Armagh and the following maul saw the ball being fed expertly to Matthew Irwin for his 2nd try of the night. Unfortunately Steenson could not convert this kick but the score line still read 47 nothing.
The restart progressed quickly but Ards tried to slow things down and closed in on the Armagh players, but the quick thinking and quicker boots of Matthew Irwin proved to be the upper hand and quick kick from him which he followed up himself at great speed to convert a tricky situation into another try. Conversion Steenson 54-0.
Ards tried again to gain momentum but Willis stopped the try making move with another outstanding tackle as the Ards winger won the ball. The forwards had put so much into the game at this stage that the bench made another strategic replacement and Andy Morton came on as a fresh pair of legs for Patterson.
With this change in the front row, the ball was again flowing to the backs and Willis and Steenson combined well again to give Steenson another chance to score under posts, which he duly converted. It seemed that Ards had got themselves into a rut that they couldn't get out of and Armagh capitalised on these mistakes and Jonny ran over for his fourth try of the evening, but he could not convert his own try.
Ards really never gave up and again began to attack well and but swift movements from the back row let Irwin save the ball from under his own posts and watch as team mate Matthew Wright score right underneath the sticks. Steenson wrapped up an amazing night with the last kick of the match to make the full time score 73 to no reply.
With 11 ties in all this rare August match everyone saw a blistering and welcome start to the 2009/2010 season and Junior Cup campaign. Armagh have tougher opposition to come in both cup and league but if the pace, fitness and tenacity can be keep to this same level then the club and spectators could potentially be witness to something fantastic.
Armagh's next opposition sees them face Cooke away on Saturday 05th Septemner. |
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