Photos by Ken Redpath
City of Armagh 1st XV Colin Atkinson Secures A High Ball Against Sligo
Having lost two of the recent three games played against neighbouring Banbridge, City of Armagh were keen to make amends and score some league points from this fixture especially when the home venue gave them a slight edge.
It was at Strandhill last season that Sligo narrowly beat City of Armagh in the All Ireland Junior Cup. The Armagh team were still smarting from this result and there was a certain resolution to secure a victory from this game.
The playing conditions on the Palace Grounds were ideal for the Armagh open, passing game. Sligo kicked off into a stiffish breeze and it was obvious from the first scrum that there had been a lot of time spent reinforcing Armagh’s scrummaging on the training pitch since their encounter with Banbridge last Saturday.
City of Armagh 1st XV Andrew Willis Scores Armagh's First Try
With only three minutes play on the clock Armagh spun the ball across to the right wing where Andrew Willis rounded the Sligo defence and touched down in the corner. Richard Reaney kicked a tricky conversion to put the score to 7-0. Only two minutes later Rainey burst through the centre and scored a fine try under the Sligo posts. Again he converted to raise the score to 14-0. What with only five minutes played and two converted tries on the board Armagh supporters considered a bonus point was a certainty.
Both sides continued to play some very fine rugby and Armagh continued to keep pressurising the visitors until they were penalised for not releasing the ball after a tackle near their posts. Again Reaney kicked the points and before the half time break he repeated this to bring the score to 20-0. Just before the break the referee ‘yellow carded’ Armagh’s loose head prop for breaking his bind in a scrum.
City of Armagh 1st XV Richard Reaney Richard Reaney BurstS Through For Armagh's Second Try
Following the break the wind dropped and Sligo, despite being twenty points behind, played with fantastic resolution. Indeed twenty minutes into the half saw their centre storm through the home defence and score a beautiful try under the Armagh posts. This was converted and to add to Armagh’s troubles Sligo’s out half scored at the posts and then converted.
Suddenly the 20-14 looked ominous and any thoughts of a bonus point evaporated from the Armagh team. Indeed, the last ten minutes of the game saw Sligo pressing the home forwards in all quarters of the game!
The final whistle could not come soon enough for the home supporters and the relief on the home team’s faces was obvious.
James Morton Secures A Line-Out Ball For City of Armagh 1st XV
Sligo went home with a losing bonus point and with a degree of disappointment Armagh, on the other hand were glad to chalk up four league points.
Next week sees City of Armagh travel away to the far west of Ireland where they play Connemara in Clifden. Although Saturday’s victory was narrow the team will have secured some confidence and are able to see progress. |
