Photos by Ken Redpath
City of Armagh 1st XV Richard Reaney Bursts Through The 'DerryDefence
Saturday saw City of Armagh First’s and Second’s both make the long trek north to Judge’s Road to play The City of Derry. The Seconds playing in the Second XV League while the respective first‘s met in the Ulster League.
The last time Armagh first’s played the ‘Derry side was in the 2008-09 season when they narrowly defeated the Armagh side but then went on to win not only the Qualifying League but also the Junior Cup and the much coveted Towns Cup!
With a 1-00pm kick-off the seconds’ game’s final whistle coincided with the main game’s kick-off. Armagh won the early game 38-03 completing the major part of the game with 13 men even reducing to 12 men for a short period!
Derry kicked off with a slight breeze at their backs. After only four minutes a strong break led to a ‘Derry centre touching down close to the Armagh posts. The home out-half, McCarter, converted to open the score at 07-0. Just ten minutes later McCarter, himself, scored a try and converted to bring the score to 14-0.
At this early stage of the game, things began to look ominous for Armagh with their pack suffering domination in both tight and loose play. Things took on a slightly optimistic phase when Armagh were warded a penalty when ‘Derry were penalise for rotating a scrum. James McBriar’s successful kick put the score to 14-03. This elation was, however, short lived when five minutes later the home side scored again, when the blind side flanker forced his wy through the Armagh defence raising the score to 19-03.
City of Armagh 1st XV James McCall Tries To Get Through The 'Derry Defence
To add to Armagh’s troubles Peter Elliott was ‘sin binned’ for retaliating when he was punched at the base of a ruck! The resultant penalty raised the score to 22-03. Just before the half-time break the ‘Derry number 8 touched down to raise the score to 27-03. On this occasion, McCarter’s conversion went wide.
After the break Armagh’s play improved dramatically and they spent at least twenty minutes in ‘Derry’s ‘22’. They launched attack after attack from every quarter but to no avail. Despite their sterling efforts, they just could not penetrate the barrack-like home defence!
This spell of Armagh’s domination was ended when the visitors were penalised for failing to release a player after a tackle and yet again, the kick was accurate to raise the score to 30-3. To add insult to injury ‘Derry’s right-winger scored in the dying minutes of the game which McCarter converted to finish off the game at 37-03.
When all is said and done one has to ask the question, how was Armagh able to equal the ‘Derry team or even more to the point, how were they able to inflict a serious defeat on the Maiden City side when they met on The Palace grounds just two seasons ago?
Perhaps the solution may evolve from the previous 2nd XV game played on Judges Road on Saturday, at 1pm. How can a successful Senior club’s second fifteen be defeated 38-03 by a depleted 13 man team as ‘Derry’s was on Saturday?
City of Armagh 1st XV Scrum-Half Harry Doyle Eyes The Opposition
City of Armagh, as a Club, continues to adhere to a strategy of recruiting, training and playing a squad system of non-match fee earning players. This will, no doubt, produce a level of player and team that is fully competitive in All Ireland 2B but may fall short of the standard required to win All Ireland 2A league games illustrated at ‘Derry on Saturday.
As the season, progresses Armagh’s policy will, no doubt, be further tested but to date the skill and resolution levels displayed in earlier matches will inevitably bring results in later encounters.
Next Saturday sees the team earn a well-deserved rest when the Senior Cup Semi-final cup games are played. |
