Armagh1 v Malone Match Report 23-03-2019

25 Mar 2019 by City of Armagh Rugby Club

Malone RFC 16 City of Armagh RFC 7
Saturday 23rd March 2019

City of Armagh travelled to Gibson Park in Belfast on Saturday and came away with a disappointing defeat to dent the team’s ambition of a top four finish in Division 1B. One can say that in reality Armagh didn’t play with any momentum until the last 5 minutes and by then it was too late.
Played in fairly perfect conditions, Armagh started off well but an early penalty attempt by Chris Cousens didn’t trouble the scoreboard. In fact this was the only penalty the visitors gained in the first half and they conceded 6 throughout the first 40 minutes. As a result, they couldn’t gain any foothold in the game and they allowed Malone to take a lead which they never surrendered. Mark O’Connor converted two penalties to put Malone 6 points ahead before slack defence allowed the Malone scrumhalf in behind the Armagh defence to put No 8 Ryan Clarke in for a score in the corner. What then bemused most Armagh supporters was why the referee did not award Armagh with a penalty try when 3 attacking scrums went down on the Malone 5 metre line and eventually the referee gave Malone a let off when he gave the home side a free kick for an early push.
Half time arrived and City of Armagh were 11 points down.
The trend in the second half continued with Armagh having most of the territory but being unable to capitalise in any of their attacks. Their misfortune continued when an enterprising back line move enabled O’Connor to squeeze in at the corner to extend Malone’s lead to 16 nil. Armagh were now chasing the game and seemed to have got over for a try by Philip Fletcher midway through the second half only for the touch judge to flag for foul play against Daryl Morton. The Armagh prop who had come off the bench, got 10 minutes in the sinbin and the opportunity was lost. Despite continuing to press, Armagh couldn’t break down a well organised home defence even though two Malone players were also in the bin on separate occasions. Malone were able to slow the game down and despite the referee now giving Armagh penalties, the game was now lost.
Armagh did get a consolation try five minutes from the end by fullback, Timmy McNeice, converted excellently by Cormac Fox but it was too little too late. Armagh eventually raised the tempo of the game and Malone were defending for their lives. 30 seconds from the end Fox attempted to get a losing bonus point with a 40 metre penalty but it fell short and Armagh came home with nothing for their efforts.
Both the lineout and scrum worked well throughout the game but the rucking and cleanouts were not functioning at all and a clever Malone pack were able to slow the ball down by not rolling away and preventing scrum half Doyle from getting his back line away. Johnny Morton also picked up a very nasty injury after 10 minutes and needed hospital treatment. So all in all it was a bad day at the office and the Armagh team now need to raise their game in the last 2 matches to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off place. Malone now go into the top 3 and a chance to finish in the promotion playoffs.
City of Armagh now have a week off to prepare for a crucial home match against Ballynahinch on April 6th.

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