Hall's trio of tries does the trick

Editorial Department • Published 28 Jan 2010 09:06 0 Comments

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Jay van Biljon bursts forward during Skins' win over Portadown in the Towns' Cup on Saturday.

Enniskillen 1st XV 45; Portadown 2nd XV 0;

A somewhat rejuvenated Skins followed up their vital league win over Coleraine with a facile victory over Portadown 2nd XV in the Towns' Cup at a foggy Mullaghmeen on Saturday. In a clinical win over inferior opposition, Gary Hall starred with a three try salvo as Skins racked up 26 points in the first half and a further 19 in the second to win with some ease.

As such then, some post-Christmas momentum has been gained and the Mullaghmeen based side will look to build further with a rearranged game against Cooke this Saturday again at Mullaghmeen with vital league points at stake.

The Towns' Cup win has earned a tough encounter against City of Derry in the next round.

The scoring started as early as the fifth minute and came after constant pressure on the visitors' line from the off. After a close call by the referee as to whether Skins had scored, Jay van Biljon crashed over from the next set play, with Keith Hurst adding the conversion.

Skins were guilty of just taking the foot off the pedal and in the next 15 minutes Portadown squandered two penalty opportunities to reduce the arrears, but as the fog thickened it was hard to see how close they were to the posts.

Skins then took control of the game and scored three tries in a 12 minute spell to break any resistance from the visitors. Ally Duncan set up the move that led to the second score when he used his pace to beat his winger, but his step inside allowed the cover to rescue the situation and Skins knocked the ball on.

Skins, however, took the ball off Portadown at the scrum and skipper Gary Hall broke free to score the first of his three tries, but this time Hurst's kick was dragged just wide.

On the half hour mark, van Biljon then made a half break at inside centre and Michael Law was on hand to take the offload and scamper under the posts, with Hurst's kick successful. John Courtney then ran in the simplest of tries as Portadown's defence parted like the Red Sea. Hurst slotted his third conversion of the half to leave the score at the break 26 - 0.

The fog really descended in the second half, but Skins continued to dominate, scoring three more tries as they went about their business in a calm, professional manner. Chris Dickey got the first after ten minutes when he came off his wing and cut a great angle to beat the defence, pushing the score over the thirty point mark.

Gary Hall then broke from a maul to score his second after 25 minutes, with Hurst landing the conversion with a superb kick from the touchline, before adding his third ten minutes later. This time he popped-up in the inside centre spot and cantered over, with Hurst again adding the extra points to round off the scoring.

As stated, apart from a ten minute spell in the first half, 'kins went about their business in a professional way, taking the chances when they came along. There will be harder games to come as the battle for league survival continues, with complacency the biggest danger.

Team: G Warrington, R Cathcart, G Beatty, M O'Callaghan, J Carleton, D Buchanan, G Hall (capt), J Courtney, R Connor, K Hurst, C Dickey, J van Biljon, M Law, A Duncan, M O'Shea. Subs: D Watson & E Adair.

Fixtures

1st XV - Home - Cooke (normal pre-match arrangements)

2nd XV - Away - Omagh II

3rd XV - Away - Portadown IV

4th XV - Home - Bangor III - McCambley Cup

U19 - Home - Dromore

U17 - Away - Ballynahinch

U15 and U13 - Home - Letterkenny

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 28 Jan 10

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