Armagh3 v Portadown Match Report 28-12-2019

30 Dec 2019 by City of Armagh Rugby Club

City of Armagh 3XV 47 v Portadown 3XV 24
Match report by Trevor Knipe

Armagh Thirds came away from Chambers Park on Saturday with a seven try bonus point win over local rivals Portadown Thirds. But it was not all plain sailing for the Armagh men as Portadown upped the pace towards the end of both halves.

Playing with a stiff breeze Armagh made a strong start and within two minutes hooker Adam Edgar beat the Portadown defence with an impressive dummy and a sprint to the line. The conversion by Andrew Knipe, who ended the match with a 100% success rate from the kicking tee, gave Armagh a boost and a 7-0 lead.

The second try followed penalties close to the Portadown try line when captain, Andrew Brady, went over in the corner. Again Knipe added the points. Referee Shane Toolan was quick to penalise any infringements and on 25minutes sent Knipe to the sin bin for a high tackle but this did not impede Armagh who, after a period of stalwart 14 man defence, broke clear to the 5m line where Portadown conceded a penalty. This was quickly taken by Con Oliver with James Johnston and Gareth Megaw on his shoulder. Megaw secured the touch down for the first of his two tries. This second coming as a result of quick thinking by Andrew Winder from a penalty on the Portadown 22m line.
Armagh went off the boil for a period and let Portadown in for two tries to leave the half time score at 26-10 in Armagh’s favour.

In response to a try by Con Oliver Portadown came back with two converted tries to bring them within nine points at 33-24. Portadown had the stronger, more experienced, pack and took the opportunity in almost all penalty situations to call for the scrum rather than kicking to the line. Armagh performed better in the line outs where Jack Gilpin was in control with Kurtis Sherry, Tim Henry and Archie McAlpine providing support.

A second try by Con Oliver and a final try from Winder ended the match with Armagh winning by 47 points to 24. Scrum half Trevor Girvan, wingers Adam Magowan and Dan Reynolds, Matthew Allen and subs Jack Chapman and Sam Shepherd added to an all round solid performance by Armagh but one that leaves room for further improvement as they look forward to their next encounter with Omagh Thirds on Saturday at the Palace Grounds.

Try scorers: A Edgar, C Oliver (2), G Megaw (2), A Brady, A Winder
Conversions: Knipe (6)

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