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Armagh seconds played Omagh seconds on Saturday at the palace grounds in cold and foggy conditions. After being under pressure from the kick off the Armagh team grew in confidence with the forwards starting to take on a tough Omagh eight.
Omagh scored a try out wide through their backs with the conversion missed leaving the score 0–05 to Omagh. On fifteen minutes Pete Lamb had to retire from the field after taking a knock on his knee leaving Armagh with 14 players against Omagh’s 15.
The scrums became uncontested with Omagh having an extra player in their backs. After some forays into the Omagh half, Simon Cuttle put Armagh into the Omagh 22 with a kick to the corner.
After a clean take in the lineout by Jeffrey Allen and some pick and drives by the forwards, Pack leader Richard Shilliday drove through to score mid way out. Simon Cuttle comfortably converted to put Armagh in front 07–05.
Two further good opportunities where spurned before half time when a knock on and wrong decision making 15 metres could have enabled Armagh to further stretch the lead.
Allister Redpath’s half time team talk had the team believing that although down to 14 players, the team could go on to win this game. Omagh however had regrouped and took play into Armagh half on the restart. Eventually they were able to create an overlap and scored a converted try to regain the lead 07–12.
Shortly after, Cuttle had a penalty drop onto the crossbar and bounce out for Omagh to clear their line. The backs well marshalled by Captain Redpath repelled further Omagh attacks and a combination of uncontested scrums and good line kicking from Cuttle brought play into the Omagh 22 again.
With good driving by the forwards, Armagh ended the match on the Omagh line trying to force their way over from close range.
After several pick and drives the referee decided that although over the line, there was a double movement and blew the whistle for full time much to the relief of the Omagh players.
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