01st September 2007

The first serious game of the 2007/08 season for the Armagh club ended in a narrow victory at Ballynahinch on Saturday when the second fifteen began their league campaign. They managed a close-run victory. The margin was narrow at the end and the home side had led 17-15 for a long period in the second half.

However, a great try in the closing minutes by full-back Sam Shepherd followed by a difficult conversion into a tricky wind by Alan Whitcroft gained two valuable league points for Armagh.

Obviously the squad sessions and the pre-season practice matches were of considerable help to Armagh, and the selected side was a genuine second’s side with few first’s filling in.

The afternoon was dry and bright with a stiff breeze blowing from the south, which favoured Armagh in the first half.

Armagh made all the early attacking, although an early surge to the line was spoiled by a penalty awarded to the home side.

The first points came to Armagh when they were awarded a penalty. Armagh made all the early attacking, although an early surge to the line was spoiled by a penalty awarded to the home side.

The first points came to Armagh when they were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute which Alan Whitcroft duly put over the posts. Shortly afterwards Alan put in a splendid touch kick after a rare Ballynahinch attack. However, the Armagh line-out was not functioning well as planned as a number of the throw-ins going astray. Richard Shilliday was gaining good possession and was the leader of a number of attacks.

The home side scored a try at the posts but failed to convert, gaining a 5-3 lead. Chris Wallace made some good ground when he made a break down the blind side from a scrum but Armagh’s first try came down the same wing when some good three quarter passing sent Simon Cuttle in for a good try. The conversion attempt by Whitcroft was foiled when the ball fell off the tee and he was forced to take a drop-kick. However, the visitors were back in a 8-5 lead position.

After a tap penalty from Ballynahinch went astray some good passing put winger, phil McAllister over for a try in the corner. This time Whitcroft put over an excellent conversion to put Armagh 05-15 ahead.

Another strong run down the left wing by No. 8 Wallace was spoiled by a forward pass which left the half-time score at 05-15.

The breeze died away to some extent but the Co. Down side began the second half with a period of concerted pressure.

The Armagh scrum was weak and a lot of loose ball was not being swept up.

So the next two tries were run in by Ballynahinch, one of them being converted. This turned things round to 17-15.

In addition to the missed conversion, Ballynahinch missed a penalty and a drop-goal attempt.

These misses were to prove costly on the final score as the last try came from the visitors when sam shepherd ran in a great try from a tapped penalty taken inside the Armagh half. The conversion by Whitcroft was good so Armagh came away with a memorable 17-22 victory.

The half-backs, Winder and Whitcroft combined well and defended well resulting in good possession for Armagh. Handling was a problem with backs, however. And the forwards did not dominate scrums or line-outs. They do have the capacity, however, to improve. James McCall had his usual impressive game and was rather unlucky not to score.

Team: S. Shepherd, S. Cuttle, C. Black, A. Knipe, P. McAllister, A. Whitcroft, A. Winder, C. Wallace, P.Abbott, J. McCall, P. Hooks, R. Shilliday, M. Hopps, S. Morton, A. Morton.