Blackrock RFC 28 City of Armagh RFC 20

City of Armagh travelled to Blackrock last Saturday for their fourth fixture in the Ulster Bank All Ireland League and unfortunately lost their unbeaten record when the home team prevailed in a close encounter to win 28-20.

In blustery conditions, Armagh played with the wind in the first half and fell behind to a Blackrock penalty after ten minutes. The visitors then went on the offensive and an accurate Crossfield kick by outhalf Cormac Fox was secured by winger Andrew Willis to cross for the opening try of the match. With a failed conversion, Armagh had a narrow 3-5 lead but Blackrock were showing that their lowly league position counted for nothing as they were determined to get their first win of the season. Good play from the home team brought play up to the Armagh 22 and their winger cut through some weak Armagh defence for a converted try to make the scoreline 10-5.
Armagh’s indiscipline then saw second row Starrett sent to the sin bin and Blackrock kicked the ensuing penalty into the corner. A lineout catch and drive resulted in the second try of the day for the home team who now led 15-5 after 30 thirty minutes.
Fox then kicked a penalty for Armagh to make the score 15-8 as the whistle went for half time.

The second half started with Blackrock now playing with the wind and their confidence was boosted when outhalf Quirk kicked a penalty to stretch the home team’s lead to 18-8.

The match was being played at a frantic high tempo and Armagh then had a spell of pressure in the Blackrock 22. A series of scrums on the Blackrock line saw the home team concede a penalty try and the match was now evenly balanced at 18-15.

Armagh continued to dominate in phases and good forward driving by the pack saw hooker Andrew Smyth touchdown for an unconverted try and the visitors had now taken a narrow lead 18-20, with fifteen minutes to play. A yellow card to Andrew Willis then handed the initiative to the home team who showed great determination and spirit throughout the match.

Poor game management let Blackrock back into Armagh territory and a penalty was converted to edge Blackrock ahead 21-20. In a nail-biting final five minutes Armagh pressed for a winning score but it was Blackrock who hit the visitors with a sucker punch with a converted try in injury time. Quirk chipped behind the Armagh defence and recovered possession to cross under the posts. The successful conversion denied Armagh a losing bonus point as the whistle went for
full-time.

The Armagh coaching team were extremely disappointed with the overall flat performance from the team. Blackrock showed much more hunger to win the match and the lesson is there are no easy games in Division 2A with every match a veritable cup-final.

City of Armagh now have to raise themselves for a formidable encounter with high flying Banbridge in the Quarter Final of the First Trust Senior Cup at the Palace Grounds this Saturday.