Enniskillen 1st XV made it back to back wins as they followed up their victory away to Ballymoney with victory over Randalstown in their opening home league game of the season at Mullaghmeen on Saturday.

The victory lifts Skins up to second place in the early league table and coach Norman Richmond is pleased with how things are going at the minute.

“It’s good progress and we’re sitting joint second in the league. The season is still very much in its infancy but if we continue to perform the way we have been and we can be a bit more savvy then it should leave us in good stead for the rest of the season,” said Richmond.

Saturday clash was a tough battle with Skins recovering from the early concession of a try to lead 18-5 at the break.

However, the second half was a tigher affair and Randalstown converted two penalty attempts but despite late pressure they could not find the try needed as Skins held out for the win.

“I thought it was a good all round team performance and in general I’m content with the win. We have Ballymena this week and that will be a difficult challenge as we have a large number of the players are away to the World Cup,” said Richmond.

It was a confident start from Enniskillen who ended up deep in Randalstown’s half in the opening minutes; then retrieving the ball from a failed kick attempt which almost resulted in an early try but for some good tackling from the visitors. Randalstown resisted the onslaught well though and made good ground back into the Enniskillen half.

The defence from the home side looked resolute but an unfortunate intercept allowed Randalstown to register first blood and cross the try line for an unconverted five points. Although Enniskillen showed their maturity and recovered immediately with great pressure from the restart and some tenacious work at the breakdown had Randalstown penalised for holding on to the ball on the ground, giving Adam Lendrum a successful attempt at three points to leave the score 3-5.

Randalstown again came back to pressure the Enniskillen try line but the defence from the home side was exceptional and crucial cover tackles from the back row and Steven Fox sufficed to keep the opposition out. A clever box kick from scrum half Ricky Connor, with relentless pressure from Ashley Finlay on the Randalstown full back, gave Skins some valuable territory to turn the tables on Randalstown. An eventual Skins line out on the five metre line was well worked from Cathcart to Cadden and, following an effective maul, was finished under the posts by Jamie Johnston to put Skins in the lead 8-5.

It was blow for blow for some time with a high penalty count back and forth from both sides. Eventually Randalstown were the first to exhaust the referee’s patience resulting in their tight head prop leaving the field with a yellow card.

Skins duly took advantage of this and the second try was much the same as the first with a line out on the five metre line taken by Kaine Holden and a clinical maul sending Michael Cadden over the line; converted by Lendrum to leave the score 15-5. Another penalty before the end of the half from Lendrum left Enniskillen with an impressive 18-5 lead at the half.

The second half was a much tighter affair with Randalstown doing well to repel some impressive carries in their own half from Jamie Johnston at number eight and the dynamic Mark O’Shea on the wing.

Discipline was ever waning as Randalstown were awarded another yellow card in the second half while breakdown infringements from the home side gave the visitors two successful penalty attempts to leave the lead a mere 18-11.

Enniskillen could have at times been more clinical while mounting pressure inside the opposition 22 metre line and should arguably have come away with points on a number of occasions.

On a positive note the defence from the home side was excellent as Randalstown put together some formidable attacking phases in the second half which Enniskillen dealt with expertly, particularly during the final 10 minutes where Randalstown fought to cross the line for a potential draw. However, the home side held out admirably and are well placed in the league.