Skins coach Alasdair McKee admits that it is tough going for his young team at the minute as they exited the Towns’ Cup at the hands of Donaghadee on Saturday.

However, he believes his team will be better for the experiences they have gained this year and is keen to get back to winning ways before the end of the season.

Skins matched Donaghadee with the wind at their backs and there was only two points between the teams at the break, but with the elements and slope in their favour, Donaghadee spent most of the half in Enniskillen territory to run out easy winners by 34-12.

McKee feels that while recent results have been poor, the team itself is not playing too badly.

“Strange as it may seem to say it,” explains McKee, “We have not been playing badly but not just getting the results. I think the fact that we have had to blood so many young players counts against us when we are playing the more experienced teams. Recently we have played the top three in section two and now an experienced section one side in Donaghadee. The results just have not gone our way. But I do believe this team will start getting the results and will be better and stronger for it.” McKee also believes the young players are making progress.

“I have been delighted with the progress of the young players. We are in a transition period, one that has been inflicted upon us with players moving to play at a higher level as well as going to England for work or university. That has made it hard for any continuity. Our target for the end of the season is to get back to winning ways and as I said, I think the team will be better for the experience of this year.” Skins had brought David Taylor and the returning Jamie Johnston into the forwards for this test and they kicked off down the slope in difficult conditions. With the aid of a strong wind it was important that the visitors started strongly and spent time in the visitors 22.

An early kick spelt trouble for the home defence but the follow up was not intense enough and Skins ended up conceding a penalty. Donaghadee themselves carried the ball well into Skins half as some visiting players fell off tackles. A penalty to Skins within kicking range after fifteen minutes was surprisingly kicked to touch and the lineout lost.

Several drives by Skins forwards made some ground but did not threaten the line.

After 20 minutes, Skins did manage to put together a handling move and Zac Charlton did well to score halfway out. Unfortunately the conversion was missed.

From the restart Donaghadee were allowed to regain the ball and gain a scrum inside the Skins half from which their scrum-half sniped dangerously and moved the ball to their second row who broke through several less than convincing tackles to score a converted try.

This gave the home team a 7-5 lead.

From the restart again Skins could not gain possession and several phases later the Donaghadee prop surged over the line for a second converted try. Skins tried to come back but were not playing their rugby in the right areas of the field.

Just before half time a penalty was missed but an intercept try from Skins’ best player on the day, Alan Wilkinson left the half-time score 14-12 and gave the visitors some hope.

After half-time, Donaghadee immediately kicked the ball deep into Skins half and proceeded to stay there for the rest of the game. They converted a penalty after 30 seconds to make it 17-14.

The Skins scrum had been holding up well but after 10 minutes of the second half Donaghadee took advantage of a five metre scrum to power over for a converted try to effectively seal the game.

Skins could simply not get out of their half as the Donaghadee half-backs controlled the game.

A further penalty increased the lead and in the last minute a Skins handling error gifted a further converted score to the opposition to leave the final score 34-12.

This defeat ends Enniskillen’s interest in all cup competitions at an early stage.

They do need to retain focus to get a maximum return from remaining league games.

If this is to happen then the team will have to play with more commitment and rugby nous than was shown last Saturday to the loyal band of supporters.