Armagh Seconds retain the Kukri Conference League 1 Title.
Coach David Eakin and captain Stephen Morton’s second fifteen prevailed against Belfast side Grosvenor on Saturday at the Palace grounds to see off a spirited visiting side who came back strongly in the second half to keep the result in doubt until the end. Player changes included in the starting lineup were Kurtis Sherry, Andrew Morton, and Matthew Reaney, with Archie McAlpine, Dan Reynolds and Phil Pollack all making their debuts. The game started in the usual high tempo way which we associate with the seconds with a lively back row of Josh Kennedy, Stephen and James Morton taking the game to Grosvenor. Some great continuity play between forwards and backs resulted in James Morton forcing his way over for a try on 4 minutes which was converted by Gerard Treanor. With an early 7-0 lead, play continued with Grosvenor struggling to win possession of the ball with Matthew Reaney and Luke Crozier proving to be a handful for the Grosvenor defence. After an incursion into the Grosvenor 22, Dan Reynolds showed good footwork to step inside his marker to touch down midway out for an unconverted try. On 15 minutes the Grosvenor backline retaliated with a good converted try in the far corner, 12-7 to Armagh. The scrums were pretty even throughout with the Armagh front of Andrew Morton, Jack Treanor and Sherry providing a solid platform. After winning a penalty scrum deep in Grosvenor territory, Armagh opted to scrum down again and after quickly moving the ball left, Reaney cut a clean line through the Grosvenor defence to touch down at the posts. Treanor added the conversion to push the score to 19-7 to Armagh. With Willie Martin and McAlpine making the hard yards through some lively ball carrying again in the Grosvenor 22, Kyle Faloon took a ball at pace from Gerard Treanor to go over untouched for another try on the half time whistle, 24-7 to Armagh. Pete Lamb and Matthew Steenson were introduced from the bench and on the restart Gerard Treanor made a superb break bringing play into the Grosvenor half. Lamb collected the offload and took off into the visitors 22 where he bounced a defender and delivered another offload to the supporting Andrew Magowan who touched down for a very good try. On the restart Armagh continued as before playing scintillating rugby and once more attacked into the 22. When the home forwards were repelled several times by a good defensive line, quick hands in the backline created an overlap for Pollack to cross over in the far corner for the best try of the game. At this point and with the score at 34-7, the backline was rejigged when Crozier picked up an injury and Grosvenor took advantage and control of the rest of the game with their slick backline creating 3 tries with the referee signalling the end of the game on the last conversion. The final score of 34-26 was enough to take Armagh to the top of the league table winning the conference 1 league title in consecutive years. This was a great team performance against a good Grosvenor side who are competing well for honours at the top of Qualifying league one. The next game is away to Rainey seconds next week in the Towns cup 1st round.