Enniskillen 57 CIYMS 17

Enniskillen continued their unbeaten start to Championship One with a comprehensive 57-17 win over CIYMS at Mullaghmeen on Saturday.

Despite playing into the wind in the first half Skins went in at half time with a 29-10 advantage and they built on that throughout the second half to stay second in the table behind Ballyclare.

Playing into strong headwind Skins opened the scoring when a CIYMS clearance kick was fielded by Eddie Keys on half-way.

Keys evaded the chasers and put Sam Balfour away for the Letterbreen man to run in for the first of his four tries.

Following the restart, Skins stole a CI lineout, kept the ball in hand to run half the length of the field, before Andy Dane broke the line, only for the last pass to be slightly forward.

From the ensuing scrum CI used the wind well, kicking deep into Skins’ territory and then having a sustained period near the Enniskillen line.

Stout defence followed, forcing several turnovers but eventually the visitors crossed the line and took the lead with the successful conversion.

Skins soon regained the initiative though.

From a lineout on the CI 22, quick ball and a line break by Angus Keys in midfield, led to a number of phases before Oisin Timoney crashed over.

The wind again prevented the conversion, but Skins had regained the lead at 10-7.

Play was soon back near the CI line and from a scrum midfield, the ball was transferred to Sam Balfour, who jinked his way through a number of defenders for a fine solo try. Keys added the points for the conversion.

The visitors picked up three points from a penalty before Skins wrapped up the half with two more tries, one of which was converted.

The first, by Stevie Balfour, from a five metre scrum and the second following some great handling after the subsequent kick-off, initiated by James Carleton. Foster and Ingram took play into the CI half and released Angus Keys on the 10 metre line to sprint in and leave the half-time score 29-10.

With the wind advantage and a blitz of three converted tries, Skins quickly stretched the lead.

The first came from a turnover by Timoney and Carleton in their own 22. The backs took the ball wide left and deep into the CI half, from where a cross-field kick to the opposite corner saw Sam Balfour claim his hat-trick.

Henry Keys caught the kick-off cleanly and rampaged into the CI half before unleashing Mattie Beatty, operating at unprecedented speed, to carry it on to within five metres of the line and off-load it back to Keys to score.

Sam Balfour added another, when the ball was moved wide, after good work in midfield by Jack Rutledge and Timoney.

CI showed their resilience by coming back with a converted try of their own, from close in.

They were on the attack again, when a shuddering tackle by Timoney on the Enniskillen line, caused the ball to spill.

George Foster was onto it immediately with a fly-hack to half-way.

A foot race ensued, led by Foster, Ingram and Ben McLaren against the CI defence. McLaren reached the ball first, kicked it to the in-goal area, where Harry Ingram touched down.

Keys converted to complete the scoring at 57-17 and conclude a very entertaining game of flowing rugby.

This week the 1st XV have a break, the 2nd XV are away to Omagh and the 3rd XV will be at home to Armagh.

Enniskillen 1st XV resume the league away to Ballymoney on Saturday October 7.