CITY of ARMAGH 3RD’s 36 BANGOR 2ND’s 24

Armagh Thirds maintained their winning form with a comprehensive win over Bangor Seconds at the Palace Grounds on Saturday in front of vocal home supporters. Having been beaten at Bangor, Andrew Brady’s men were out for revenge in this top of the table encounter. Armagh did not take long to show their intent and when referee Chris Logan awarded a free for interference in a line out second row Willie Martin took a quick tap to out half Andrew Winder and on to Brady who showed a clean pair of heels to the Bangor defence going over in the corner for 5-0.
Bangor took a brief lead with a converted try from a reversed scrum but Armagh hit back with a Trevor Girvan try from a scrum penalty. Andrew Knipe added the conversion for 12-7.
Minutes later Centre Matthew Allen demonstrated soccer skills when he intercepted a Bangor pass and dribbled the ball from halfway to under the posts for Dan Reynolds to touch down. Again Knipe added the points for 19-7. Once again Bangor hit back with an unconverted try. When Flanker Tom Johnston, left the field injured Nick Jennings came on to make his debut for the Thirds. Bangor were not giving up easily and a third try brought them to within two points but that was as close as they would get to a resolute Armagh team. The Armagh front row partnership of Adam Edgar, Tim Henry and John Johnston were a good match for their opposite numbers and Con Oliver and Jack Gilpin added height, weight and control to the Armagh pack. Number eight Archie McAlpine scored a bonus point try in the corner for Armagh although he injured his knee in the process and was replaced by Robert Straghan.
The second half was less intense and Sam Shepherd replaced Knipe but it was Willie Martin who confirmed the win with a try, which Winder converted, following two penalties taken as scrums under the Bangor posts. Bangor got a try bonus point when they scored ten minutes from the end but Armagh came away with a second Brady try, five league points and a pride restoring 36-24 win.
Next Saturday it is a return visit to Ballymoney when the home team will be out to avenge their defeat by Armagh in the Crawford Cup.
Try scorers: Brady (2), Martin, McAlpine, Girvan, Reynolds
Conversions: Knipe (2), Winder