ENNISKILLEN U-18S ............................................. 33

CLOGHER VALLEY UNDER-18S ................................. 0

Enniskillen progressed to the next round of the Bell Lawrie U-18 (C E Bowman) Cup with a comfortable victory, the result of a good solid and mature team performance.

In the opening minutes, both sides traded driving mauls, but in this mini-battle for supremacy Enniskillen fared better, gaining more yards and at times stopping Valley's drive in its tracks.

Enniskillen were playing controlled rugby with the forwards taking the ball forward, recycling well before releasing the backline, and in the opening stages a few handling errors were all that stood between 'Skins and a score, but eventually the opening try came on ten minutes. Clogher Valley were penalised for a high tackle and Enniskillen elected for the lineout, from which hooker Danny Meehan scored following an excellent "rumble" by the forwards. Ruari Fee was unable to convert and the lead was 5–0.

Enniskillen then had two more opportunities to score before they eventually added their second try. In quick succession, only last gasp tackles had prevented scores, but on 23 minutes Michael Law broke a tackle, with three men outside him, to score beside the posts. This time, Fee added the points for a 12–0 lead.

Enniskillen were in control with Jack Harte at open-side flanker doing what flankers do best, getting his hands on the ball in both attack and defence. The forwards were securing and protecting possession, ensuring that the backs had a plentiful supply of quality ball. This eventually led to the third try on the half hour mark. Quick transfer saw the ball make its way to the right wing, where Jamie Livingston stepped inside his opponent cleverly to score a few metres from touch. Fee then slotted over a beautiful conversion to leave the score at 19–0.

A penalty after 33 minutes allowed Valley to venture into Skins' half for the first time, apart from kick-offs, and a few missed 'first-up' tackles crept into the play, allowing Valley to gain some momentum, but Enniskillen had the better of their opponents in the forwards and with the back row of Harte, Anton Treacy and Gavin Parke to the fore, they stopped Valley's maul on their own line to see out the half.

The second half continued much as the first, with Enniskillen causing problems in the Clogher Valley backfield. Fee was having a great game at outhalf, pushing Valley back with some fine kicking, keeping 'Skins on the front foot. After five minutes, a high kick from Livingston was mis-fielded leading to a scrum on the visitors' line, from where Fee cut through in midfield, and seeing his chance to offload blocked, carried on to score and convert himself, increasing the lead to 26 points.

Six minutes later, Enniskillen added the fifth and final try. Parke powered over Valley's substitute open-side flanker with ease before eventually being brought to ground. Treacy had the next dart before scrum-half Mark Connors crossed for the try. Again Fee added the extra two points.

Enniskillen continued to take the game to Valley despite the introduction of their full quota of substitutes, and the backline continued to make hard yards with great runs at their opponents, but all the time the possession was controlled, with the ball being presented well and re-cycled, running through multiple phases. On the defensive side the back row continued to stop their opponents in their tracks with some excellent tackling, and Valley spent so little time in Enniskillen's defensive third that a score seemed unlikely. However, Valley stuck at the task, and only a great tackle on the far side jarred the ball loose with the line in the sights of the visiting winger. Then in the final minutes, Enniskillen produced a goal line stand to stop the Valley forwards crashing over, a period of play that ended with that man Harte 'ripping' the ball off an opponent and regaining possession for 'Skins to clear to safety.

FIXTURES

Enniskillen v Ballymoney - Powerade Towns' Cup Semi-final - Saturday 24th March 2007, kick-off 2.30pm. Anyone hoping to attend the pre-match lunch should contact Club President Ewan Richmond or John Latimer by Thursday evening at the latest.

2nd XV – home – Belfast Harlequins 4th XV

3rd XV – home – Ballynahinch 4th XV

Sunday Ladies – away – Trinity

MINI RUGBY

This coming weekend, Enniskillen's mini rugby section host Monaghan after a break last week for St Patrick's Day. Kick-off is scheduled for 11.00am and all players are asked to report by 10.45am at the latest in preparation for the matches.