Enniskillen 1st XV produced an excellent performance to progress to the second round of the Junior Cup on Saturday after a 24-19 win over Malone 2nd XV in Belfast on Saturday.

Skins will now play Qualifying One side Dromore in round two at Mullaghmeen on Saturday, October 18. Skins set the tone from early on against a good, young Malone side and raced into a 24-0 lead by half-time, playing some of their best rugby of the season.

In fairness to Malone, who are top of their 2nd XV league, they came back strongly in the second and 19 unanswered points made for a nervous ending for Skins but they held on to book their place in the draw for round two.

Skins coach Norman Richmond reflected; “I think in the first half the boys showed similar to the Lisburn game what they are capable of when they are in the zone and it was great to get back to winning ways following the defeat to Randalstown.

“Malone are no bad side and they came at us in the second half but we held firm to set up the game against Dromore which will also be a good encounter. We have a break on Saturday and play Coleraine on October 11 where we will want to regain control in the league and get back to winning ways.” New coach Norman has been happy overall with the start to the season.

“The boys are working hard and the return of the likes of Ashley Finlay, Nick Finlay and Gareth Beatty who has dual status has helped strengthen the squad which was needed. We will keep woking hard and see where that takes us.” From the outset Enniskillen were comfortable to play in their own half and absorbed any pressure coming from the Malone pack before a break from full back Ashley Finlay gained some valuable ground, then in a fantastic display of skilful off-loading from the forwards, including prop forwards Alan Ferguson and Steven Fox, the ball went wide to Finlay once again who showed great footwork to score under the posts. Malone enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half but Enniskillen’s defence was very clinical and worked diligently to shut down a very sharp back line, while the scrum and line out continued to function well against Malone pressure.

The forwards continued to carry extremely well with captain Jamie Johnston leading from the front and successfully drawing in the Malone defence. The space was well exploited in what is sure to be one of the top tries of the season as a well placed pass from Nick Finlay out wide to Kyle Johnston in the Enniskilen half allowed a break down the wing and some great interplay between Johnston and Donagh O’Callaghan before finally being scored by Jack Harte (pictured). The final Enniskillen score came from some individual brilliance from David Buchanan who gathered a fumbled line out inside the Malone 22 metre line and went on an impressive run before off-loading to Jamie Johnston for the try.

This combined with out half Nick Finlay’s accurate kicking left the half time score at 24-0 but Malone staged a comeback in the second half and almost managed to swing the result. Skins lost Alan Ferguson to concussion but they continued to defend well in general play with debutant winger Lloyd Harte doing well against dangerous opposition, but the Malone side were seemingly revitalised and started to utilise their agile back line, and a particularly destructive number 13 who put the Malone 12 away for the first score with an excellent off-load. Another score came in quick succession and Enniskillen will be disappointed at their efforts in this case as the Malone winger coasted from his own half evading numerous tackles. Enniskillen managed to hold off for the win and conceded only one more try after extended pressure from Malone deep in the Enniskillen half before full time.

The 1st XV have a week off now before they return to league action against Coleraine at home on October 11. This weekend the 2nd XV play at home to Ballynahinch on Saturday, 2.30pm kick off.