Match Report, Saturday 4November 2017
Ulster Rugby Regional South
Report by David Loughran, Photos by Graham Crozier.

Portadown 4XV (07) – v – CITY of ARMAGH 4XV (49)

City of Armagh fourth fifteen made the short journey across the A3 to Chambers Park in Portadown for the highly anticipated local derby fixture. On a cold winters afternoon the conditions couldn’t have been better for a game of Rugby Football.

Armagh were looking to avenge their narrow defeat at the hands of the same opponents some twelve months ago and did so in style.

Armagh built up a commanding eleven point lead in as many minutes with two penalties from captain, David Loughran either side of an unconverted try courtesy of Centre Michael O’Neill. O’Neill broke through the tackles of a few of the opposition defence and stretched for the line from some five metres out touching down in the corner in what was a real show of desire and strength.

Armagh continued to attack from the re-start and through two plays had gained serious territory. The re-start was collected by winger Loughran who ran in field and earned a penalty as a result of a high tackle. Michael O’Neill kicked for touch and from the line out the Armagh maul worked wonders. Flanker Adam Hume broke off the back of the maul choosing to go down the blind side and touched down to the right hand of the posts. The conversion was successfully added by Loughran to extend Armagh’s lead to 18-0.

Portadown were now frustrated and were attacking the Armagh defence through their forwards running with a mixture of anger and frustration and it appeared to be paying off. A drive off the line-out was held up, driven back and eventually turned over in what was a great bit of rugby by the Armagh pack.

The hosts discipline was proving to be detrimental to their efforts to remain in the game as they conceded their third penalty of the half on the stroke of half time. It was in a perfect position, just outside the 22m line and directly in front of the posts. David Loughran stepped up and struck it beautifully to send it through the posts and leave the visitors with a 21-0 lead at the interval.

Half time score: Portadown 4XV (00) – v – CITY of ARMAGH 4XV (21)

With the low sun now set any advantage Portadown had in the first half would not spin in the way of Armagh for the second. The Armagh lads did not let this deter them and they picked up pretty much where they left off scoring a try within minutes of the re-start.

Influential back row player Jonny Kirkland got the honours using all his strength to power across the line for Armagh’s third try of the afternoon. The additional points were secured and Armagh’s lead was extended to 28-0.

Portadown did get their first score of the game with a try under the posts as a result of nothing more than this Armagh side switching off. It had been coming with their previous efforts held up on the line by the combined efforts of Adam Hume and Timothy McBride. The conversion was added from the boot of former Armagh player, Rory McCreesh to reduce the deficit and leave the scores at 28-7 with some fifteen minutes of the half gone.

Portadown has found their groove and were beginning to move the ball a bit better, a turnover was kicked downfield and full back John Johnston took off and proceeded to chase the ball and kicked it several times soccer style into the dead ball area where he touched it down to the left of the posts. The conversion was added by Loughran and Armagh had quickly cancelled out the earlier Portadown score to leave 26 points between the sides once more. (33-7)

The final fifteen minutes of the match saw Armagh amass another three try’s with two of them coming from Ross Crozier who marked his full debut in the number ten shirt with a scintillating performance.

His first try came as a result of a great intercept by Mark Allen inside his own half and set off on a breathtaking run. Allen was tackled inside the 22m line the ball was recycled quickly to oncoming runners Oran Campbell and Ross Crozier who pooped the Portadown defence and ross finished under the posts. The conversion was added afterwards and Armagh extended their lead to 37-7.

Armagh’s penultimate try came from second row player Paul Cully who took a ball in front of Prop Robert Nicholl and bounced off a few blue shirts before falling over the line. The conversion along the touch line was not added sailing narrowly wide of the right hand upright, however at this stage it was not to be crucial with Armagh now having a commanding 42-7 lead.

Ross Crozier’s second try came as he picked the ball from the back of the scrum the Portadown 10 shot the line and Ross soon exploited the space and douched down under the posts once more. The conversion was added by Loughran and the game ended 49-7 to the men in red and black.

It is refreshing to see so many lads getting rugby throughout this league including returning players such as Adam Brennan and Gareth Crozier to name but a few.

The win saw this team clinch the Minor League Southern Section having not tasted defeat once along the way. They now progress into the Minor League Premier Division after Christmas with the remainder of the other regional Section winners and the best runner up from the four divisions.

Before all that though they have the McCambley Cup to prepare for and a tough home tie against Inishowen 1XV next weekend.

Well done to all the players and their management team of Graham Crozier and Ian Watson for their efforts so far this season in getting to this stage.

Team (1-15): A.McClenaghan, G. Graham, R. Nicholl, P. Chapman, P. Cully, A. Hume, T. McBride, J. Kirkland, R. Davidson, R. Crozier, C. Campbell, M. Allen, M. O’Neill, D. Loughran ©, J. Johnston.
Replacements: G. Crozier, O. Campbell, A.Brennan.
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City of Armagh RFC