Report by Wes Batty. Photos by Ken Redpath
City of Armagh prop Jacques Van Rooyen eyes up the opposition
It was another disappointing day at the office for City of Armagh on Saturday as they slipped to an Ulster Senior League defeat at the Palace Grounds against Ballynahinch.
The game was far from a classic on a day when free flowing rugby was missing from both sides.
Both sides were locked at 03-03 at half time but 19 unanswered points from Ballynahinch sealed their win. However the visitors were far from impressive and only managed their three tries when they made the most of Armagh’s errors.
Armagh went into the game with several personnel changes in the pack. Injury deprived coach Andy Hughes of prop Philip Fletcher and back rowers Neil Faloon and James McCall. As well as that captain Phil Hill was missing while Johnny Steenson’s ankle injury kept him out of contention of returning at full-back for another week.
The game was switched to the back pitch at the club when it was deemed the main pitch was too hard following the overnight frost.
Chances were few and far between in the opening 40 minutes as both sides cancelled each other out across the park.
City of Armagh Harry Doyle directs play
However it was the visitors who were edging the game and they should have scored a try on 16 minutes but out-half James Lash dropped the ball at the vital moment. Armagh were reduced to 14 men when Mark Riddle was sent to the sin-bin on 23 minutes but still ‘Hunch were unable to capitalise.
But the visitors did take the lead three minutes from the beak when Lash sent over a penalty from 45 metres. Armagh’s response was immediate at in injury time James McBriar slotted over a long-range penalty to level the game up.
The second half, however, was all Ballynahinch and they raced over for their first try on 49 minutes when poor tackling allowed scrum-half Aaron Cairns to race in at the corner. And with Lash adding the conversion, the visitors had a 03-10 lead.
On 65 minutes ‘Hinch increased their lead when Stuart Morrow scored an unconverted try after using an overlap out wide.
And 10 minutes from time the game was put beyond all doubt when James Thompson broke through Armagh’s defence to score a try.
Armagh: Timothy McNeice, Andrew Willis, Richard Reaney, Colin Atkinson, Matthew Wllis, James McBriar, Jacques Van Rooyen, James Johnston, Brian McConnell, Brian Bassett, Tinus Van Wyk, Peter Elliott, Mark Riddle, James Morton. |
