Duncan try secures Forster Cup

Editorial Department • Published 15 Apr 2010 12:18 0 Comments

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Enniskillen Third XV celebrating after winning the Forster Cup at Ravenhill.<<

Enniskillen 3rd XV 18; Monaghan 2nd XV 10;

Enniskillen's Third XV clinched the Forster Cup for the second time in four years in an exciting match at sun kissed Ravenhill on Saturday to cap a topsy turvy season for the side.

The match started well with 'Skins spending the opening five minutes or so in Monaghan territory and managed to leave with three points courtesy of a well struck penalty, but then allowed Monaghan to dictate the game and experienced a poor 25 minute spell, during which they fell behind to a converted try.

Skipper Ben Hamilton was glad to see half time and the opportunity to rally his troops during the interval, but it was an early injury in the second half that proved to be the turning point of the game. A front row reshuffle was necessary with James Prenter entering the fray and he certainly staked a huge claim for man of the match as he proceeded to take four strikes against the head in the scrums, and chipped in with a try to take 'Skins into the lead.

Both sides had traded penalties and with time running out 'Skins showed their instinct to kill the game by playing the final five minutes inside the Monaghan half holding on to a slim 11-10 lead, but with what proved to be the final act, Ross Duncan crashed over for a try, converted by Jamie Livingstone, to seal the victory.

A well deserved win for the side and skipper Hamilton in particular, who has led the side through thick and thin for two seasons, and a win that certainly helped lift the gloom over Mullaghmeen on a day that saw the first XV relegated from Section One, as neighbours Clogher Valley lost at Coleraine.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 15 Apr 10

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