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| Cooke (13) vs Armagh (33) |
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05th September 2009
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A sunny autumn afternoon and excellent hospitality saw Armagh travel to Shaw's Bridge to play their second round match in this season's Junior Cup. Anticipation was high in the crowd after two previous losses to the Belfast side.
Armagh were noticeably buoyant after their winning start to the season and took to the pitch with rapturous applause. But Cooke were not to be denied a win on home turf, and were confident to have the wind behind them for the first half.
Cooke replied to the Armagh starting kick with good pressure in both the maul and the scrum, and with this moved steadily down the pitch towards the Armagh 22. But Armagh proved that their defence has improved over the summer months and that they are not easily intimidated. This start was unfortunately marred by two things- an early blood injury to Joe Clarke and a penalty awarded to Cooke. However,even with the wind behind Cooke could not capiltalise and the attempt hit the bar and into waiting Armagh arms.
From the 22 drop out Armagh continued with the pressure but the tempers rose with it and resulted in a double sin binning of both Jamie Cornett and a Cooke player for fighting. With both teams down one player each in the scrum came into the forefront.
Armagh continued to mount pressure on Cooke and vice versa. But unlike last match the ball was being closed down every time it was passed to the backs. Frustrated Armagh hands went into the ruck and caused another penalty was awarded to Cooke. This time the wind aided the kick and Cooke led by 3 points.
Armagh were not downhearted after this passage of play and raised their game to counteract the home team. This was rewarded with some strong back play including last week's golden couple Andrew Willis and Johnny Steenson joining forces with new boy Lee Manu to pass the ball to Adam Gowing for the try. Johnny then slotted over the kick against the wind to make it a perfect score.
But after this elation from the Armagh supporters, there was a sharp intake of breath when a break from Cooke followed by some strong attacking saw them push over to score their own try. However, with the wind and the tight angle both a factor, the conversion did not go over, and the first half finished 8-7 to the home side.
The second half started in Armagh's favour and within minuted Adam went over for his second try of the day, and then Johnny used the wind to his advantage and the kick sailed over.
Consistent pressure from the Armagh team as a whole lead to some fantastic play from Willis and Manu with strength and fancy footwork they passed to the replacement Andy Hughes and he went over for another fantastic score. This time Gowing stepped up to the tee and kicked an excellent conversion.
It was at this stage that Armagh realised that the game was in their grasp and they started to slow the game down so that they could play their game their way. This was a bold move from the visitors which was working well until more hands went into the ruck and Cooke were awarded another penalty. But Armagh made a good turn around after the line out and continued with their excellent pressure. This was epitomised by Willis with an excellent tackle on two Cooke players at the side line.
The wind had picked up at this stage of the game and proved to be a deciding factor for the Cooke game when they realised that their high kicking chasing game was not going to get them out of their own 22.
To Armagh's credit they had switched their game to play to the strengths of the forwards and dominated in the scrum, so much so that the referee deemed that they had deliberately turned it and awarded the next scrum to Cooke. But the adverse decision did not phase Armagh and they reclaimed the ball and got a penalty. As with Cooke in the first half perfectly aligned kicks were left at the mercy of the wind and Gowing attempt drifted wide.
But making a second replacement in the scrum, Armagh got their second wind and pushed forward to link up with the dancing feet of Manu for a supberb try on the diagonal to outrun 4 Cooke backs. But the corner placing denied Gowing his only missed conversion.
Again hands in the ruck after the restart let Armagh give away another penalty and allowed Cooke back into the game with a period of sustained pressure. But it was not be when Eddie Irwin picked the ball up on the 22 and ran through three tackles to score underneath the posts.
Gowing again kicked the ball over the bar to make Armagh clear winners at 33-8, but Cooke still had one more play up their sleeves and as in the first half the second ended with a Cooke try.
Andy Hughes has chosen an excellent side that have proved themselves in their two matches but now he is faced with an enviable task as several players return and boost the strength of the squad. This strength will be needed as they face Limavady at home on Saturday. This will also be the showcasing of the new Kukri uniforms for the first time this season at the Palace Grounds.
This is an exciting time at Armagh with new players joining the ranks and the first season under the new three year plan.
There is also a reminder to all members that tickets for the Jazz Brunch on Sunday 27th September are available from committee members and the bar at the club. The Brunch will begin at 12noon and entertainment will come from the Apex Jazz band. |
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