|
|
| Armagh (16) vs Ballymoney (09) |
|
20th September 2009
|
| |
This match was not a stellar performance by either side and in some places play was loose and mistakes were made. But it was the ability to capitalise on these errors that narrowly separated the teams in the end. Right from the first whistle Armagh had the domination of the field but seemed to be playing on the back foot and gave away an early penalty. Fortunately for Armagh this attempt hit the post aided slightly by the gusting wind.
However, mistake made it was not learnt from and literally after the restart Armagh again found themselves behind their own line for another penalty. The gods must have been with Armagh because Ballymoney could not convert their food luck.
Both teams found the gusting wind a problem for long passes and high kicks so it became obvious that this was going to be a predominately forward game.
The next series of play found Armagh completely in control and only a silly mistake by a Ballymoney hand gave the visitors their first attempt at a penalty, and Adam Gowing's kick had the length but not the direction.
After a Ballymoney line-out it looked as if the home side had found their feet, but an excellent tackle by Joe Clarke silenced the local crowd.
The short but productive passage from Ballymoney had ended and gave the territory back to Armagh. No matter what the home side tried they were cut down by excellent defence from the opposition.
A 5m scrum for the home side was turned and although the homes side won the reset they were not to be so lucky the second time. This gave Armagh the impetus to continue in the same vein and finally Armagh crossed the line with the expert hands on Joe Clarke. But the angle and the wind stopped Gowing from making it the full 7 points.
The restart saw Armagh playing their own type of fluid rugby but after an alleged late tackle, Ballymoney seemed to get into the game and before they realised it, Armagh found themselves at their own 22.
It was at this stage that Armagh's problem from the last couple of matches – hands in the ruck- appeared again and gave the home side a penalty chance in front of the post. It was third time lucky for the Ballymoney back as he slotted over the score.
But Armagh had not finished their first half offensive and even with two players down the play continued Armagh's way. Even when the play returned to their own 22 an interception from Eddie Irwin showed the brilliant possibilities of the Armagh back line as he went onto score virtually unchallenged.
With a miss from the boot of Gowing the half ended like all previous matches this season with Armagh in the lead.
The break gave the Armagh back room staff a chance to tell the players what they needed to do and it seemed to have worked. Good safe hands and line out takes followed the start of the second half and this meant that the Ballymoney players were the ones making the mistakes.
But all good things have to come to an end and Armagh made one mistake too many in front of the referee, so he had no choice but to award the penalty to the home side. Armagh were lucky at this juncture as the penalty went wide.
But, Armagh showed their true colours with domination and determination, but this was not transferred into chances and therefore scoring abilities. However, Ballymoney handed a penalty to Armagh with mistakes that plagued both sides. This time Gowing's boot did convert and the cushion of points grew steadily larger.
Scrappy play followed by both sides and it really was end to end rugby but for all the wrong reasons. Even against the wind high kicks seemed to be the only way for either side to gain back some much needed ground. But again hands in the ruck allowed Ballymoney to claw back three points from a penalty almost infront of the posts.
This seemed to be a passage of play that was repeated again and again and a few minutes later, despite good technical play from Armagh, the result was another penalty to Ballymoney. If not for some more excellent defensive play from the forwards there could have been a score for the home side. Bizarrely they chose to kick a penalty and missed.
Armagh regrouped and battled their way back up the pitch. It was slow and tiresome work but eventually paid off, but not in the way hoped. It was Gowing's boot that again helped Armagh regain their composure.
The restart shook this composure as within seconds Armagh found themselves defending charge after charge of Ballymoney play literally on the line. And defend they did right to the final whistle.
Throughout the match each player in an Armagh jersey as usual gave their all but hands down the players of the match should be in equal quantities Andy Hughes and Joe Clarke. Both players made match saving tackles that helped keep the Armagh record clean so far this season
This match will not go down in the annuls of time as a classic but it serves the old adage well –
A win is a win. |
|
