On Saturday last Enniskillen travelled to Randalstown for this eagerly anticipated Qualifying League encounter, anxious to build on their vastly improved performance of the previous weekend. Enniskillen fielded a side with one change in personnel from the team that had beaten Strabane, with Carl Egan returning to the back line, having recently resumed full time training. Jason Wilson consequently reverted to his usual position on the right wing. The game was played in perfect conditions with the visitors, having won the toss, opted to defend the kick-off from the home side.

Enniskillen displayed immediate intent, controlling possession for the opening ten minutes, although Randalstown’s defence was resolute in their determination to thwart any attempted attacks on their line. The home side did eventually manage to break out of their 22, building an attack deep into the visitor’s half. In their anxiety to regain control of the ball Enniskillen were penalised for going off-side. The resulting penalty was duly converted to leave the home side three points ahead at the end of the first quarter.

At this stage in the game the Enniskillen scrum was beginning to dominate the opposition eight, with Johnny Forster, Ryan Cathcart and Stephen Fox establishing control in the front row. During the course of the game they managed three strikes against the head.

Patrick McCreery competently performed at scrum half. His ball distribution from both set piece and loose play kept the back line moving forward at every opportunity.

Carl Egan was obviously relishing his opportunity to reclaim his position in the side, and alongside Alan Wilkinson in the centre the partnership was causing the home side defence all kinds of problems.

Enniskillen continued to control possession, stretching the home side’s defence on several occasions. This pressure eventually paid off when in the 29th minute some slick passes form the Enniskillen back line created an overlap and released Zach Chartlon on the wing to run in the opening try of the game.

The home side riposte was almost immediate. Randalstown attacked the Enniskillen line from the resulting re-start. They drove towards the visitor’s defence, controlling the ball at the break-down. As a result of missed first line tackles the home attack eventually outflanked the Enniskillen defence to touch down in the corner. This unconverted try left the score eight points to five in favour of Randalstown at the interval.

From the restart Enniskillen regained possession and started to move the ball wide from a series of well-controlled phases.

In the third minute of the half Danny Maguire popped up to drive over 20 metres through the opposition cover.

Again, quick ball from the resulting ruck caught the home side cover lacking adequate numbers to defend their line, and when the ball reached Jason Wilson on the right wing he duly obliged by finishing off a well-executed Enniskillen attack to touch down in the corner.

Although Enniskillen had enjoyed a period of territorial dominance and just before and immediately after the interval, this second try seemed to lull the pack into a false sense their commitment for the day was done. Any illusions the visitors may have had regarding the final outcome were quickly dispelled when again, shortly after the restart Randalstown drove deep into the Enniskillen half with a series of controlled mauls.

From an extended period of dominance by the home side and some desperate defending by the visitors, Randalstown were awarded two penalties in relatively quick succession.

Both penalties were duly dispatched to leave four points between the sides going into the last quarter of the game.

The Enniskillen back row of Holden, Roofe and Gormley excelled in the loose throughout, and as hard as Enniskillen tried to claw their way back into the game their efforts were constantly frustrated by the home side’s resolute defence. Randalstown’s resolve became more apparent as the game progressed. Most of the final quarter was played in the visitor’s half of the field In the final minutes when Randalstown gathered a clean catch from a line-out just inside the opposition half the ball was immediately moved to the home side back line and with the assistance of some disciplined forward support play managed to set up several phases to bring the play deep into the Enniskillen 22. From a resulting ruck the ball was fed to their right wing, who outflanked the defensive cover to score a well-taken try and to put the result beyond any doubt and to remove any thoughts Enniskillen may have had of taking a desperately needed bonus point.

The focus of attention now moves to the season’s two remaining league fixtures, with a visit to Grosvenor next week and the final game against Limavady shortly afterwards.

The Enniskillen players certainly feel they have a point to prove and still have time to salvage some pride before the end of a very frustrating season.