Bangor RFC 2nd Xv 5 City of Armagh RFC 3rd XV 41

Saturday 16th October 2021

Report by Trevor Knipe

City of Armagh Thirds took on one of their closest challengers on Saturday and came away from Uprichard Park with a 41-5 win over Bangor Seconds. Traffic congestion meant that almost half of the squad reached the ground with just time for the last five minutes of warmup. But when referee Jonathan Diamond blew the whistle to start the match Armagh took to the task with gusto.
The teams were closely matched in the first quarter with both sides defending well but Armagh always looked threatening going forward and when Willie Coleman sprinted up the left wing with ball in hand and flicked it skilfully to Matty Allen a try was inevitable. Captain Andrew Brady had his kicking boots on and made the conversion with ease. Armagh’s discipline was exemplary but that could not be said of Bangor who conceded many penalties, culminating in a red card for their substitute hooker in the final seconds of the match. It was a penalty, quickly taken by scrum half Trevor Girvan, that gifted James McCall a try. He was never going to be stopped as he surged for the line.
Kyle Gallagher had to leave the pitch with a shoulder injury and Conor Simms took his place for his first game of the season. At half time the Armagh lads had a 12-0 lead.
The captain’s pep talk at half time worked wonders and it wasn’t long before the lead was extended. A penalty, kicked to touch by Brady, was taken in the line out by Andrew Frazier-Smith and reached Adam Edgar who crossed the line under the posts. The two points were added by Brady who added three more, minutes later, from a penalty. From the restart Bangor had no answer to the attacking guile of the Armagh forwards and with some super rucking and running it was hooker R J McCall who secured the bonus point try, converted by Brady. McCall was later named Armagh Brewing Company Man of the Match for his performance throughout the game.
Although Bangor came back with an unconverted try it was Armagh who finished with a flourish and Conor Simms scoring under the posts.

The try of the match came in the final moments after a quickly taken throw-in, inside the Armagh half, was carried by Dan Reynolds for 25 metres through the struggling Bangor defence then passed to James McCall who ran a further 25 metres for a magnificent second try.
Six try’s, four conversions and a penalty for a bonus point see Armagh lead Provincial Premier Division 2 with 24 points from five matches. Credit must go to every Armagh player including those not already mentioned, Neil Lutton, Con Oliver and Jon Agnew in the pack and Sam Shepherd in the back line with Alex McNiece and Gareth Megaw coming on from the bench.
Next up for the Thirds is a home game against league strugglers City of Derry Seconds but we don’t take anything for granted and would love your support at 2.30 on Saturday.