Enniskillen 1st XV showed plenty of character as their great start to the New Year continued on Saturday with a hard earned 19-15 victory over Academy.

Skins went in at half time holding a 7-3 lead but two tries for the visitors put them into a 15-7 advantage.

However, the home side dug deep and four successful penalties from Chris McVitty secured the win for Skins as they climbed the table to maintain their push for a top three finish in Kukri Qualifying League Two.

The big games continue this weekend for Skins with an away game against high flying Omagh although coach Norman Richmond will be hopeful that his side can continue their recent rich vein of form in the derby encounter and reverse the result earlier in the season when Omagh won a tight contest at Mullaghmeen.

“On Saturday it was again another assured performance from the 1st XV. The game was never going to be a fluid one what with injuries and the Mullaghmeen seasonal weather but we dug in and took our opportunities when presented to us. It is pleasing that we have completed the double over a good Academy team as last year we fell short over both games. We travel to Omagh this week for the local derby game and as the league leaders Omagh will be confident although we still feel robbed following our narrow home defeat against them at Christmas and we will be hoping to repay the compliment this Saturday as momentum increases within the team,” he said.

In a physical contest Skins suffered a worrying blow early on as scrum-half Paddy McCleery was forced to leave the field following a collision, with winger Kyle Johnston assuming the scrum-half duties, Mark Hood taking the field at back row and utility player Jack Harte moving to the wing.

And it was Academy who were to strike first as the Enniskillen front row were penalised for popping up and Academy successfully kicked at goal.

Enniskillen found themselves under pressure again with Acadmey awarded another penalty but on this occasion the effort drifted wide of the posts.

After a balanced period of play that saw neither side able to capitalise on their opportunities, Enniskillen began to disrupt the Academy line out and clear their lines. Then following a penalty at the ruck area McVitty kicked to touch deep in the Academy half and while Academy disrupted the Skins line out, they knocked the ball on in the process to award the home side a scrum. Skins won their own ball comfortably and following a powerful carry from Jamie Johnston, the ball found Ryan Cathcart who put Mark Hood away in space for a strong carry from the debutant. And with a clinical clear out at the ruck scrum-half Kyle Johnston spotted space at the edge of the breakdown and went on a sniping run through for a try under the posts, converted by McVitty to leave the score 7-3.

With no further scores before half time it was the home side who went in with the lead at the break but Academy made the better start to the second half.

After an Enniskillen knock on gave Academy valuable territory the visitors began to attack fervently with their dominant scrum making it difficult for Enniskillen to recover. Enniskillen dealt with the close quarters attack fairly well but when Academy shifted the ball wide their pacy winger found a way through out wide to score in the corner and put Academy ahead 8-7.

And the visitors were to add to their lead as a scrum made huge ground with Enniskillen going back rapidly and with the following kick through from Academy Enniskillen were forced to touch the ball down behind their own try line for a 5-metre scrum. Academy took this opportunity as expected with a huge drive resulting in a penalty try to the visitors and Enniskillen now trailing 15-7.

The home side reacted well to this though as they exerted pressure on Academy. A good take from a 22 drop out by Cathcart kept Skins on the front foot and a penalty for Academy venturing offside at the ruck allowed McVitty to take three points from a kick at goal to reduce the lead to 15-10.

Enniskillen continued to play a patient game and Academy’s frustration showed, penalised again at the breakdown and allowing McVitty to kick for valuable territory. Mark Hood gathered the line out ball deep in Academy’s half and a penalty soon after from a high tackle allowed McVitty another three points from the boot.

Good tackling from Mark Hood forced a knock-on and then a breakdown infringement gave Enniskillen another penalty and yet another three points from McVitty for Enniskillen to lead 16-15.

It was a tense last five minutes for the home support but Skins looked resolute in maintaining this result. David Buchanan took the restart excellently and made great yards, McVitty then kicked for territory but the Academy back threes counter attack looked very threatening and tackling from Michael Cadden and Mark Hood just about kept them back. A typical David Buchanan steal at the ruck gave the home side possession and Wilkinson executed a perfect kick into touch in the Academy half, the resultant line out was well disrupted again by Enniskillen who regained possession, and as Jamie Johnston threatened with close quarter carries the Academy forwards were once again offside at the ruck and gifted Chris McVitty another kick at goal to leave the score 19-15 at the finish.