Strong display eases U-18s to the win in league

ENNISKILLEN U-18s girls took to the pitch on Friday night under floodlights to face the amalgamated team of Armagh/banbridge/ Newry.

Watched by a large home crowd and on a dry and calm but cold November evening, the girls were keen to put on a good display.

They certainly didn’t let the home supporters down.

Great carries

After a kick-off from the opposition, a number of great carries by Olivia Black, Keri Elliott and Eve Courtney and quick ruck ball secured by the ever impressive Keeva Corry, scrum half Aimee Ross made a lovely pass to hit Victoria Murray who was on a great line.

She ran the 30 metres to score and the conversion was added by Victoria Benson to make it 7-0.

The next score showed much of the training ground practice when backs and forwards combined to make great ground upfield, and after a final carry by Chloe Moore, the backs were released, and through the hands of Olivia Beavis and Katherine Armstrong to finally get to Captain Scarlett Keys, who sprinted through to the line.

Directly from the resulting kick-off, Anna Wilson gathered the ball and went on a scorching run up the left wing.

Such was her pace, the Armagh girls couldn’t lay a hand on her. She scored under the posts and the conversion was added by Benson to make it 19-0.

Scarlett Keys was soon to get her second try out wide and this was quickly followed by a great team try by Niamh Johnston when Abi Brock, Jessica Mccurry and Amy Taylor broke through the Armagh lines to put Johnston into space.

Next came the introduction of Leah Irwin to U-18 rugby and she adapted to it very quickly, getting two quick tries before half time, ably assisted by Ross and the hard-tackling Lauren Kelly.

Irwin converted both of them herself to leave it 43-0 at half time.

If the first half was a textbook display, then the second half was better still.

The Skins girls ran in another six tries with three of them converted to put polish on a superb evening.

As per the Ulster Rugby competition regulations, the scoreline beyond a 40 point margin doesn’t get recorded but it has to be said the opposition team from Armagh/ Banbridge/newry should be massively applauded for the way in which they stuck at their task. For parts of each half, they provided a really strong challenge.

Excellent manner

As for the Enniskillen U-18s Girls, they truly performed in an excellent manner both on the field of play and off it. They are a great credit to themselves and their club.

Next league game for the girls is an away trip to the amalgamated team of Rainey/ballymoney/ballymena, who are joint at the top of the league with Enniskillen, on Sunday, November 27 with a 1pm kick-off.

All supporters would be most welcome as the girls are sure to face a tougher task.