Armagh Seconds Win Conference League 1
Thursday 19th April 2018
Armagh Seconds became Kukri Ulster Conference League 1 champions last Thursday night when they travelled to Ballyclare to play their first fifteen in a game which had been cancelled 3 times previously due to inclement weather conditions. From the off, Armagh’s backs looked sharp with the dry firm conditions suiting a fast running game. An early attack initiated by the forwards led to Luke Crozier being tackled close to the corner flag. On 7 minutes, sharp passing out wide led to Shane McKeever touching down in the opposite corner for Harry Boyd to add a good touchline conversion. On 16 minutes more driving play from Gareth McNeice and Michael Hoey led to a crash ball from Crozier who upon going to ground, off loaded to Captain Stephen Morton to finish off from 10 metres out. With Boyd’s conversion, Armagh were 14-0 ahead. Some Armagh indiscipline led to Ballyclare replying with a penalty and from a 5 metre lineout an unconverted try to close the gap to 14-8. Willie Martin, Josh Kennedy and Connor Simms were keeping the robust Ballyclare forwards busy with William Holden making several darts to keep the home defence on their toes. On 25 minutes quick hands from Kennedy and Morton led to McKeever sniping over in the same corner as his previous score for another converted try, 21-8. Again Ballyclare closed the gap due to some weak Armagh tackling with a converted try at the posts which left the score 24-15 to Armagh. On the restart Ballyclare took play into the Armagh 22 with the ball kicked through and touched down by Crozier. Some clever thinking by Boyd saw him take a quick tap on the 22, pass to Pau Gimeno who took off up the pitch outpacing the Ballyclare defence and unselfishly passing to the supporting McKeever on the line for his hatrick try. Boyd converted again to stretch the lead to 28-15 at halftime.
With the backline in full flow, Boyd made a midfield break to set Holden on his way from 40 metres out outpacing several defenders to touch down at the posts, 35-15. The scrums had been competitive all evening with Philip Matthews, Michael Hoey and Lutton providing the required solidity against an experienced Ballyclare eight. Eoin O’Hagan joined the fray returning from a lengthy period of injury along with Trevor Girvan replacing Holden. With Pau and Matthew Reaney combining well in the centre, Reaney broke though an attempted tackle on the edge of the 22 to touch down at the posts for a good individual try. Further tries by Karlsen and Crozier brought the score to 54-15 at the final whistle.
This was a very good performance from the Seconds to finish top of this league with only one loss and a draw from 12 games which was just reward for some scintillating rugby this season. The Seconds have with 2 games left to play with the team in with a chance of winning the 2nd xv league to add to their conference league title.