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Armagh 2s played the current league leaders Ballynahinch 3s on Saturday. The match kicked off on a very soft pitch due to the overnight rain and an under 19 youth game which had only finished prior to the 2.30pm starting time. Armagh had two second fifteen debutants in Peter Rowantree at outhalf and Jamie Monaghan at fullback.
After a quick tap penalty by Armagh on the half way line, the Hinch forwards turned over possession and moved the ball wide creating an overlap for their winger to score under the posts.
With the simple conversation Armagh found themselves 07–0 down after two minutes. This served as a wake up call and Armagh started to play a basic game of using the ball to gain territorial advantage and taking on the Hinch forwards in their own half.
The slick Hinch backs however brought play up the pitch again and a try was scored to make the score 12–0. With David Martin and Richard Shilliday competing well in the line outs Armagh were able to string several phases together between forwards and backs.
On 25 minutes Armagh drove deep into the Hinch 22 and after good recycling and off loading, Philip Fletcher took the ball at pace 10 metres out and touched down to the left of the posts. Simon Cuttle added the conversion to bring the score to 12–07.
This try gave the team great confidence as they realised that with continued intelligent positional kicking from Peter Rowantree and good forward momentum, another score would put more pressure on the league leaders. After a positive half time team talk Armagh started the second half under pressure from the Hinch forwards.
On 50 minutes in the Armagh 22, the Hinch scrum half dummied and went in at the posts unopposed. The conversion was missed but this soft try was to prove a hammer blow to Armagh with the score now at 17-07 to the Hinch. At this point Philip Fletcher had to leave the field with an injured foot and as in the previous game, an injured player left the team down to 14 men.
More good forward charges by Armagh put the locals under pressure and a clearance kick by the Hinch outhalf was well charged down by Simon Cuttle who then calmly gathered the ball and fed the onrushing Steven Morton who sped over mid- way out.
The conversion was missed but with the score now at 17–12, Armagh were again within a converted score to claim a much needed win. With renewed vigour the Armagh team again stepped up their game with the Hinch outhalf desperately clearing his lines at every opportunity.
With time running out Armagh were awarded 2 very kickable penalties but with a dominant pack the decision was taken to kick to the corner for two five metre line outs. After sustained Armagh driving at the Hinch Line Andrew Knipe was held up and Hinch awarded the scrum.
With a massive wind assisted clearance kick the ball was sent into Armagh 22 when after a ruck was formed a Hinch player came in from the side and after picking the ball up dived over in the corner to take the final score to 22–12.
This gave a flattering look to the score line for Ballynahinch as Armagh deserved more from their efforts. Jamie Monaghan was very safe under the high balls he was continually bombarded with and showed a great willingness to run the ball back and cleared his line with confidence.
Brian Bassett had his usual barnstorming charges leading the way for the rest of his forwards. Again this was a disappointing result but confidence will be taken from this game into the next league game after a strong performance from the forwards and encouraging play from the backs.
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