Skins will have to wait, see and hope

Editorial Department • Published 1 Apr 2010 10:51 0 Comments

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Action from Skins' defeat to Limavady which means relegation is a real possibility.<<

Enniskillen 1st XV 10; Limavady 1st XV 20;

Relegation to section two of the Qualifying League is a distinct possibility for Skins after losing their vital clash with Limavady at Mullaghmeen on Saturday, As if the defeat to Limavady was not bad enough, the news later that Coleraine had defeated Dromore to leave Skins only two points away from the bottom merely added to their disappointment.

With the bottom team certain to be relegated and the second from bottom team dependent on how the bottom of All-Ireland Three shakes down, Skins now know that if Coleraine wins either of their last two games against Ballymoney or Clogher Valley then it will be Skins definitely going down a division.

As such the, it was as bad a finish to the league that the Skins could have hoped for.

It looked all so different when Skins made a blistering start and plundered a converted try within the opening three minutes.

A quality break by Saul Shanahan gave Ally Duncan space and his chip ahead rolled into touch a few yards short of the line. Limavady didn't control the ball in the lineout and Gary Hall was on hand to touch the ball down for the try, with Shanahan adding the conversion for a perfect start. Skins then let Limavady back into the game as the visitors kept control of the ball and on 11 minutes secured their opening points through a penalty.

Worse was to follow for Skins as Limavady took the lead after 27 minutes. A forward pass gave the visitors possession and from a steady scrum the ball was fed back inside to the second row who had an uninterrupted 20 yard run before offloading for a simple try under the posts. The conversion was successful and the visitors lead 10 - 7.

The sides then traded penalties in the final ten minutes of the half, Shanahan again successful for Skins, to leave the half-time score at 13 - 10 to the visitors.

The second half proved to be a rather flat affair, and the writing was on the wall for Skins as they failed to muster much attacking opportunities with very little quality ball. The lineout has been a particular achilles heel for the side most of the season and the inability to win even their own ball again cost the side dear on this occasion. Limavady secured the win after 34 minutes with a try following a lengthy period of pressure on Skins' line.

It is the end of a difficult season for 'Skins, one that has seen many lows, with precious few highs. Everyone can now only wait and see what happens and where they will be playing rugby next season.

Team: G Warrington, S Welsh, D Watson, R Grey, J Carleton, D Buchanan, G Hall (capt), J Courtney, R Connor, C Dickey, A Duncan, A Wilkinson, M Law, G Parke, S Shanahan. Subs: R Beatty, M O'Callaghan.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 01 Apr 10

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