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With Portadown continually unable to field a 4th XV, Armagh 2nds had not played a game in 3 weeks and that rustiness showed in a winning but unconvincing return to the field at Ballyclare last Saturday.
Spectators of this team through the season have come to expect a high level of skill and some entertaining rugby, both of which were missing, and they will certainly have to regain their previous style for the last 2 games against CIYMS and Ballynahinch if they are to clinch the League Title they so richly deserve.
In a game littered with handling errors, missed tackles and wrong choices, Armagh played with the wind in the first half and despite early pressure from the home side scored first from a well worked line out which lead to a strong drive and a try for Stephen Morton. Adam Gowring converted to make the score 0-7.
A similar move some ten minutes later resulted in another score, this time from John Faloon who spotted a gap from the back of a rolling maul and dived over to register Armaghs second try. This unfortunately went unconverted. In the only other highlight of the half fly half Gowring took the ball just outside the Ballyclare 22 and evaded three tacklers to touch down under the posts – he then converted this try leaving the half time score at 0-19 to Armagh.
The second half developed into something of an empty half as Armagh, through Chris Wallace , scored early on to really kill the match off as a contest. Ballyclare never really threatened to bridge the gap and the majority of their chances were caused either by Armagh indiscipline or overly casual support play, although one well worked back move saw their impressive full back touch down for a consolation try in the corner.
To the delight of the spectators, the final whistle was blown soon after, leaving the final score at 05-24 in Armaghs favour - a hard earned and important 2 points, and hopefully just an off day in what has otherwise been a very impressive season to date.
Captain Mark Lavery will undoubtedly be hoping for much more from his team next Saturday away to CIYMS |
