Armagh seconds played a friendly against Rainey seconds at the palace grounds on Saturday.
In what was to prove a highly entertaining game against two evenly matched sides.
Armagh’s forward power prevailed to give the home team a deserved win.
Rainey were very quickly into their stride with both forwards and backs playing a high tempo game form the start resulting in an early try at the corner flag. 5 – 0 to Rainey.
Shortly after a penalty was added to stretch Rainey’s lead to 8 – 0. Armagh’s scrum was beginning to dominate the visitors scrum and the team were now starting to gain much needed possession.
On 32 minutes after good play by Bassett ,Clarke and Ackum, Andrew Knipe waltzed in for a good try at the posts.
With Knipe’s successful conversion, the score was now 7 – 8 to Rainey. There were no further scores during the remainder of the half with both defences dominant.
After the half time pep talk by coach David Eakin, the home team kicked off with renewed determination to push on for further scores.
The front row of McConnell , Warnock and DarrylMorton aided by the power of Bassett and Haughey in the second row were giving the Rainey front three a tough time.
After a period of play in Rainey 22, Joe Clarke squeezed over for a forward’s try near the corner.
With the try unconverted Armagh now had the lead 12 – 8.
With Jonny Steensonmaking a welcome return from injury, Armagh had the nous to play the territorial game and a further home try was scored when Bassett charged over at the posts to seal the game with a converted try.
Final score, Armagh 19 Rainey 8. Credit to Rainey for the expansive style of rugby they played, however Armagh had the edge up front and the experience of key personnel in the backline.
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