Scrum victory

Ballymoney's 2nd XV hosted Enniskillen's 2nd team on Saturday, in a Provincial Premier Division 2 league encounter. With both sides winning their first two games, this was an early season test for two strong sides.

While the home side got off to a solid start, it became immediately clear that the visitors had come to play - a well drilled defensive unit capitalised on an early spill from Ballymoney to gain a foothold in the Ballymoney half. With the home side giving away several penalties, leading to a sustained spell of pressure, Enniskillen were first on the scoresheet, breaking through the defensive line in midfield, and supporting well to score a fine opening try, converted for 0-7.

This seemed to know the early confidence and the home side made several more mistakes in possession, allowing Enniskillen to dominate the first 20 minutes. It was fortunate, then, that Ross Fallows was able to intercept a wide play deep in his own half, and raced away from the cover the score a long range breakaway try. The conversion was missed to leave it 5-7.

Ballymoney were slow to gain any momentum against a defensive line that seemed to cover the full width of the pitch, and giving away an uncharacteristic number of penalties and knock-ons. However, Ballymoney's defense also was tightening up, so Enniskillen were also finding it tough to make inroads. As the first half drew to a close, Lewis Hawthorne was able to convert two penalties for the home side, coming from scrum offenses, leaving the score 11-7 at half time.

The second half continued to improve for the Toon, with the front row starting to really establish a period of dominance in the scrum - Blair, Watson, and Munnis really taking the game by the scruff of its neck. With the pressure and penalty count growing, a lineout in the corner led to a series of short carries, and eventually Mulholland slipped his long arms through a tackle and found Murdoch with the offload and a well-deserved try. The conversion from Hawthorne was good for 18-7

Further scrum dominance led to a further penalty for Hawthorne, and even when both props were subbed off on 60 minutes, Anderson and Clyde continued where Blair and Munnis had left off, driving the visitors off the ball on several occasions.

However, Enniskillen were not out of it yet; after 65 minutes their centre avoided a rushed defensive line and found space on the outside. Despite the cover tackling coming across, there were enough numbers and good supporting play to get over for the try in the corner. This time the conversion was missed, leaving it 21-12.

Eventually, as the visitors' pack started to tire, gaps started appearing on the outside. First Hawthorne broke through in midfield, nearly making the line, but was still able to present the ball back from the ruck to captain Linton to scoot over. And in the final play, his co-captain Mulholland got over as well. Starting from a scrum on the right, Watson managed to offload to the looping number 8, who found Hawthorne on the outside. As the cover came across and stopped both Brown and Fallows in support, it was the evergreen Mulholland who was on hand once more to take the final pass and get over the line for a well earned bonus point. Hawthorne converted both tries, leaving the result 35-12 for the home side. Man of the match could have been any of the front row, but Matty Blair got the award this time for his all round contribution and welcome return to the 2s.

After the game, coach Irvine said "Credit to Enniskillen, they're a well organised side who were tough to beat. There's plenty for us to work on in training of course, but we're delighted to get away with a bonus point win. And the most pleasing thing was the turnaround in the second half, where we cut down the mistakes and penalties, and really turned the screw in the scrum, and kept going until the end. It will be a tough return fixture in Fermanagh in January!"

Next league game for the 2s is in two weeks time, on the 21st October, at home to Dungannon 2s.