Armagh RFC Second XV played Monaghan 1st XV last Tuesday night in a pre-season friendly at the Palace grounds. The game started at a furious pace with the Armagh side fielding most of the team from the previous season quickly exerting pressure on the Monaghan defence. Both forwards and backs combined to take play deep into the Monaghan half only for wrong options to spoil try scoring opportunities on several occasions.
From one such foray the Monaghan forwards turned the ball over close to their line and with quick hands moved it to their pacy winger who ran the length of the pitch to score at the posts. With a successful conversion Armagh found themselves 0-07 down after 10 minutes. Even with Matty Wright’s probing runs and the Armagh backs moving the ball wide, the Monaghan defence held firm for the remainder of the half.
The second half resumed with both teams having made a number of substitutions. and the Monaghan forwards again providing the Armagh eight with a tough battle up front. Led by Brian Bassett, Pete Lamb and Richard Shilliday play again continued in the Monaghan half. On sixty minutes the ball was moved wide through Andrew Magowan, Cuttle and Dodds to John Faloon who scored in the corner.
The difficult conversion was missed with the score remaining 05-07 to Monaghan. With Armagh now stepping up a gear, Monaghan only broke out of their half on a couple of occasions. On seventy two minutes Richard Shilliday made good a break through the middle of the park and off loaded to Robbie Faloon who crashed over at the posts.
Simon Cuttle added the conversion to leave the final score 12 – 07 to Armagh.
This game was very beneficial for both teams with the final score reflecting that there was very little between the sides. Armagh can now look forward to their first league game on Saturday at Carrick with some confidence. |
