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| 2nd XV (72) vs Instonians 3rd XV (22) |
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28th September 2009
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The only match played by an Armagh side saw a lesson given by the home side as how to play as a team. Armagh started as they had in their previous matches with strong work in the pack, but an early penalty was given away by a common mistake of hands in the ruck.
Quick mistake made and the recovery that followed was all in Armagh's favour. Slick handling from the pack to the centres then to the wing led Stuart Lester to put the ball expertly under the posts. Simon Cuttle stepped up and duly slotted over the straight kick.
But the Belfast side were proving that they were no push over and only after a passage of sustained pressure did the local men captilise on their strengths. A well executed scrum saw the pack push over for another well deserved try. When the bodies had been removed the try was awarded to Phil Hill and although the angle was tight Cuttle placed the kick to get the further 2 points.
Armagh were on a proverbial roll and 2 more tries followed in quick succession scored by Davy Martin and Simon Cuttle, both converted by Cuttle.
But the first half was not over from visitors point of view. They chased the ball well, gained very valuable yards and kept Armagh on the defensive for several minutes. But an excellent kick saw Armagh leave their 22 but the advance away from their own line was short lived as the home side gave away a penalty in front of the posts.
The second half started in the same vein from Armagh as they attacked in well with defined moves and allowed the backs the space to run, allowing John Balvert and Stanley Hamilton over for quick tries. Again Cuttle could do no wrong and both balls were duly slotted over.
Instonians forced some good pressure on the Armagh pack and scrum half Adam Bartholomew had to leave the field with a muscle injury. This left the Armagh back line reshuffled with Matthew Wright coming in from full back to scrum half and Chris Wallace coming into the scrums when required.
But this did not stop the Armagh machine from continuing with their winning ways and some more slick passing from pack to the backs saw Balvert go onto to score under the posts. Quickly converted the restart saw action on the half way line and a brilliant interception and run from Chris Wallace saw the score total climb steadily higher.
The visitors though refused to give up and some sloppy defence let them get back onto the scoreboard. Unfortunately after such a good passage of play the conversion was missed. But Instonians did not give up and came straight back with another fantastic run of play and another try came about with some excellent kicking from tight angle.
It was at this stage that the game kicked up a notch. In the space of the final 10 mins 4 tries were scored. Stuart Lester was first to get this phase of play under way with a spectacular run round three of the opposition to score underneath the posts. Although the ball was placed in a perfect position, the pressure was mounting on Cuttle, but it made no difference as the kick was placed and put over.
A well worked move from Instonians after the restart saw an exciting try scored underneath the Armagh posts which their kicker slotted over as a consolation.
But Armagh were by no means done and Lester again was passed an excellent ball from the back of a ruck and ran with it.. Cuttle continued to keep his 100% record and earned himself a total of 23 points for the match. Not to be out done by his fellow back row Lester was again the recipient of a steadily worked phase to allow him over for his fourth try of the game.
To finish the game Stanley Hamilton stepped up to the kicking tee to finalise the with a well deserved score of 75-22. |
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