Former players return to rub salt into Skins

Published 4 Feb 2010 14:15 0 Comments

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Jay Van Biljon shows some neat ball work against Cooke on Saturday.<<

Enniskillen 7; Cooke 17;

Enniskillen put in a disappointing and lacklustre performance in this league tie, rearranged in the wake of two wins following the long break in December and January.

It was an indifferent start from 'Skins and Cooke managed to create a number of overlaps, but some poor decisions meant these chances were squandered. It was no surprise that the visitors took the lead after 14 minutes when a 'Skins clearing kick was charged down for the second time in a matter of minutes, the ball falling kindly for the attacker to scoop it up and feed the winger for a routine touchdown in the corner. The conversion was successful and the lead was 7 - 0.

Cooke threatened but 'Skins were holding on manfully; however, just when it seemed that they would go into the halftime break just the one score behind, ex-Skin Clive Donaldson managed to make the line with an outstretched arm in the corner, making up for an earlier opportunity when he just ran out of room. This time the conversion rebounded off the upright and the halftime score was 0 - 12.

'Skins did manage to up the tempo of their game in the third quarter of the game and were rewarded when Richie Grey was on hand following a break from skipper Gary Hall, to take the offload and reach for the line to cut the deficit. Keith Hurst added the extra two points and reduced the visitors' lead to five points.

'Skins were in the ascendancy at this point and Hall looked to have scored another try but the referee could not be sure whether the ball had been grounded over the line and when James Carleton made an effort to clear out a Cooke player, lying illegally on the ground stopping 'Skins from retaining possession, he was yellow carded, a decision which swung the tide back in the visitors' favour.

Cooke tied up the result with 15 minutes remaining and it was another ex-Skin, Keith Armstrong, who rubbed salt in the wound. The tackling from 'Skins had not been at its best throughout, particularly in the backline, and Armstrong's try showed up the frailty, as he skipped out of four tackles to cross for the try. Again the extra points were missed, but the try proved to be the final score as Cooke ran out 17 - 7 winners.

'Skins have a lot of work to do this midweek as Coleraine are the visitors to Mullaghmeen this Saturday, and the game is a real eight-pointer, with the Bannsiders rooted to the foot of the table, four points behind 'Skins, courtesy of the victory in Coleraine, three weeks ago. With this game and that at home to Limavady to come in March, league survival remains in Enniskillen's own hands as the season heads to its frantic conclusion.

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

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 04 Feb 10

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