Lurgan 1st XV 17 Enniskillen 1st XV 32

Enniskillen recovered from a poor first half performance with an excellent display after half time to secure their place in the next round of the Towns’ Cup with a 32-17 win away to Lurgan on Saturday.
An in form Skins side went into the game as strong favourites against a Lurgan team who are a league below Enniskillen but it was the home outfit who had the better of things in the first half as they went in at half time with a 17-8 advantage.
Skins though raised their game in the second half and they ended any fear of being on the wrong end of a surprise defeat as they hit back to run out 32-17 victors in the end.
“We started the game well but some simple basic mistakes put us under adverse pressure allowing Lurgan to score two tries heading into the end of the first half,” explained Skins coach Norman Richmond. “The boys dug in as we started the second half and finally started to play some good rugby resulting in our progression to the quarter finals of the Towns Cup. In reflection had this been a better team, and that is no disrespect to Lurgan who continued to play for the 80 minutes, our cup run could have been prematurely ended.”
Lurgan came out of the blocks looking keen to cause an upset and quickly had the visitors on the back foot with a penalty putting the home side into a three point lead.
 Lurgan continued in the same vein after achieving first blood and the pressure yielded a try when Enniskillen fumbled the ball receiving a kick inside their 22. This was kicked through by the Lurgan chaser and touched down for an early score. 
Skins were feeling shellshocked at this stage and came back attempting to stamp their authority on the fixture. Some more patient phases had Enniskillen getting into their stride and with the line out functioning well they were able to put together some devastating mauls to trundle up the pitch and cross the line for their first score. 
Any notions that Lurgan would lie down now were quickly dashed.  A wayward Enniskillen pass was intercepted at pace by one of the Lurgan backs, and he sprinted from the half way to cross the line. 
Enniskillen seemed to compose themselves after this and they started to play more rugby in the opposition half, but a penalty from the boot of Lendrum was their only consolation and the first half ended 17-8 to the home side.
Whatever was said at half time seemed to have the desired effect as Enniskillen shook off their early lethargy and started to dominate proceedings, working their way into the Lurgan half with strong running from Jamie Johnston and Ricky Lee in the back row. 
Enniskillen started to get the ascendency now in the scrummaging contest and a Lurgan scrum on their own 22 metre line was severely disrupted by the Skins pack and Nick Finlay at scrum half, while tormenting his opposite number, managed to kick a loose ball through and touch it down to bring Skins back into range. 
Now holding onto possession much more effectively Skins’ attacking game started to come together well and Lurgan started to concede penalties as they came under pressure in their own half. 
This was duly punished by the boot as Skins confidently kicked to touch and sought to extend the scoreline through their driving maul. Lurgan stood off the maul in an attempt to get the penalty but, with the help of some good communication at the back of the maul, Kaine Holden quickly turned and went through the gap at the line out to cross for another try. 
Skins had their tails up now and were soon back in the Lurgan half looking for points. After some patient pick and go’s inside the 22 Finlay sent the ball wide to Wilkinson on a hard line from inside centre who found a gap and passed to Jack Harte who touched down under the posts. There was no question of the result now and the game ended 32-17 to Enniskillen after their nervy first half against a very determined Lurgan side.