Enniskillen 1st XV’s winning run hit a speed bump last weekend with a defeat away to former league champions Instonians at Shaw’s Bridge. An early intercept had Skins scrambling on their own line and earning the ref’s contempt at the scrum which only added to pressure and ensuing to two tries for the home side. Skins getting back into the game with their maul to trail 14-5 at the half, then taking control in the second half to lead 14-15 thanks to a Finlay penalty and Jamie Kelly score. A late score from Inst and potential equaliser ruled held up saw the home side take the spoils with a 22-15 finish. Skins looked excellent at times in open play but indiscipline had them utterly suffocated with penalty offences throughout while some defensive slips and errors made life difficult; the fact they picked up a losing bonus point given the penalty count was a testament to what the side are capable of.
Skins were relentless from the restart and had the home side scrambling with their excellent width and variety of attack, until an intercept had Skins back on their own line and defending under pressure in a dramatic switch of fortunes. From a resultant scrum there were a number of collapsed efforts and it looked as if the referee decided Skins were at fault, and this was to continue throughout and effectively blunted what is usually a key weapon for the Enniskillen pack. Gaining a penalty Inst kicked for touch and an excellent Gavin Parke steal held the home side out for a while but Skins couldn’t get out of their 22’. Soon Skins were back under pressure near their line with a series of scrums and another penalty was tapped quickly, ending in a try after a number of carries at the Skins line, 7-0 to Instonians.
Penalties continued to come against Enniskillen for creeping offside and Inst missed two chances to increase their lead through kicks at goal in a strong wind. Skins ended up pinned back on their line again after a poorly chased 22 drop out and unsurprisingly with territory so firmly to their detriment against a big opposition pack it was only a matter of time before one of the Inst forwards crossed the line, now leading 14-0.
From the restart Skins finally got some traction when they were awarded a penalty in the Inst half. Kicking to touch Skins secured the line out and made good ground off a formidable maul; winning the penalty they went for the same again just outside the 5 metre line and the maul crossed the line for David Buchanan to get on the scoreboard, closing out the half at 14-5.
With the wind behind them Skins’ territory was much improved in the second half but handling errors made it difficult to get any continuity. Instonians’ ball retention continued to be good and a massive defensive effort was required from Enniskillen with Rutledge and Parke working hard in the forwards while Ferguson and Harte were superb at shutting down any threat in the backs. Eventually Inst were penalised in the opposition half and Skins set up a line out 5 metres out, the maul again proving too much for the defence but they managed to take it down, Skins resorting to a flurry of pick and go’s to get the job done with Jamie Kelly crossing for the second try, converted by Finlay to trail a mere 14-12.
Enniskillen looked buoyed by the score and their attack in full flight looked like a handful to say the least, David Buchanan hitting an excellent line in midfield to burst through the defence deep into he Inst half. Indiscipline from Skins gave the home side some relief with a penalty but the resultant kick failed to find touch and Mark O’Shea ran the ball back with some phases of attack ending in a penalty to Enniskillen, Finlay slotting the kick to put Enniskillen in the lead at a very narrow 14-15 with 15 minutes on the clock.
Errors and poor decision making marred the final period for Skins who have showed an ability to close out games so far this season. Held up after collecting the restart Enniskillen handed Inst possession and they went back on the assault. Soon afterwards a high tackle penalty came Inst’s way and this was compounded with a scrap on the ground that led to a yellow card coming Enniskillen’s way, and three points for Instonians after a kick at goal, restoring the lead at 17-15.
A defensive slip allowed the Instonians flanker to bring play straight back into the Skins 22’ from the restart and a controversial refereeing decision ensued as he kicked ahead, O’Shea seemingly shepherding the ball over the line to touch it down was deemed to have carried it over, much to the outrage of the Skins contingent as Instonians were now handed a 5 metre scum against a 14-man Enniskillen. Skins held the scrum at bay but repeated carries just a few metres from the line eventually crept over and the home side went 22-15 in the lead.
With just a minute to play Skins put the restart dead, leaving them with much work to do. Thankfully from the resultant Inst scrum the ball was knocked on leaving Skins with one last attacking opportunity. An infringement from an Inst player allowed Enniskillen to set up a line out inside the opposition half and the maul struck once again only to be brought down illegally; the penalty allowing Skins a second line out well inside the 22’ with the maul bringing play right to the line before being brought down, the referee deeming the ball legally held up and blowing for full time.
It was a frustrating day for Enniskillen where their recently stubborn defence and keen decision making suffered lapses, and still their quality shone through and could still have won the contest if not for some crucial slip ups. They turn their attention from the league to the defence of their Town Cup title this weekend with their first fixture in the competition, hosting their Junior Cup Final combatants Armagh 2XV at Mullaghmeen, this Saturday at 2.30pm.

1. Gavin Warrington
2. Ryan Cathcart
3. Gareth Beatty (C)
4. David Buchanan
5. Jamie Kelly
6. Jack Rutledge
7. Gavin Parke
8. James Carlton
9. Mattie Dane
10. Nick Finlay
11. Mark O’Shea
12. Jack Harte
13. James Ferguson
14. Conor Hoy
15. John Maguire
16. Steven Fox
17. Ricky Lee

Match details

Match date

Sat 25 Jan 2020

Kickoff

14:30

Team overview