Late Connors try helps book semi-final place

Editorial Department • Published 11 Mar 2010 09:38 0 Comments

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A break forward as Enniskillen 3rd XV upset Grosvenor to make it into the semi-final of the Forster Cup.<<

Enniskillen 3rd XV 22; Grosvenor 2nd XV 20;

Enniskillen 3rd XV produced a superb performance to defeat unbeaten league leaders Grosvenor to book a place in the semi-finals of the Forster Cup.

A late try from Mark Connors and a pressure conversion from Rory Connolly overturned a 20-15 deficit and with Skins holding out in the final few minutes, the late scores garnered a cracking win.

The game started off with the visitors in a very confident, if somewhat cocky, mood but Skins were determined to show that despite the difference in league positions they were not going to just roll over and it was Skins who were on the scoreboard first.

The visiting winger fielded a kick and initially broke a couple of tackles to set up possession but Jimmy Moore, alert as ever, intercepted an inside ball and sprinted to the corner from almost halfway, showing he still has the pace, to score the opening try after eleven minutes.

The lead was almost doubled six minutes later when a great catch and drive marched Grosvenor backwards and Davy Flack cut a great line 'against the grain' to open the field for Moore who was caught just yards short but managed to get the pass off, but the play broke down on the visitors' line with the ball jarred loose in the tackle.

Grosvenor did reduce the lead on 23 minutes with a penalty before taking the lead on the half-hour mark with a try from a quick tap penalty, that caught Skins short in defence. The conversion was successful, but the visitors lead was to be short-lived.

From the restart, and with the visitors recovering from having lost a man in the build-up to their try, Skins stole the ball and Ross Duncan, who tortured the visitors all day, went on one of his trademark runs upfield and quick hands left Matt Teague with a sprint to the corner, a race he won to level the scores up at 10-10.

Skins then suffered a set-back in the opening minutes of the second half when Ricky Lee, injured at the end of the first period was forced to leave the field making the sides even at fourteen men each, but not before the visitors regained the lead when their out-half dummied the pass under the posts and cantered over for a converted try.

The game was evenly poised and there was a feeling that the next score was crucial, and it was Enniskillen who scored it as time ticked into the final quarter, and it was that man Moore again. Rory Connolly started the move with a pass and loop to retake possession creating an extra man, and eventually the ball came to Moore who broke two tackles and showed his strength on the line to reach for the try. Unfortunately Connolly's kick was missed to leave 'Skins two points down, and this looked like proving costly as 'Skins conceded a penalty and three points from the restart to push Grosvenor's lead to five points at 20 - 15.

Skins were not finished and after a second quick penalty in succession Duncan was stopped just feet short, but the ball was recycled and Mark Connors stole over from scrum half to pull Skins level with 12 minutes remaining. This time Connolly's kick was sure giving Skins the advantage.

The closing minutes were tense but the experience brought by Gary Law, Duncan, Flack and Moore, reduced to a bit part on the wing having been injured in the act of scoring, along with sound captaincy from Ben Hamilton stood the team in good stead as they tried to retain possession and work the clock down. Grosvenor found themselves pinned deep in their own half and had no response as Skins saw out the closing ten minutes comfortably to progress to the semi-finals in three weeks.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 11 Mar 10

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