After a tough game last weekend against Bainbridge this week’s training programme focused on improving ball retention in contact and better decision making around pitch position. From the whistle the ERGS team attacked Rainey recycling the ball quickly and putting the visiting side under pressure. The entire first half was played in Rainey territory forcing them to defend and causing the discipline in the breakdown to work in Enniskillen’s favour. It wasn’t long before the first try of the game from No.6 Quillan Irvine giving the ERGS side a much need boost after the last couple of weeks. From the restart the Intensity continued as ERGS attached again, Rainey on occasion managed to regain possession of the ball but the runs they made where quickly closed down by excellent tackling. Nathan Armstrong continued to dominate mid-field play by his route one running, sucking in the Rainey defence as it took at least 3 men to bring him to ground each time. As the defence weakened it wasn’t long before he then scored the second try of the game which was successfully converted by Shay Owen.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, despite 2 disallowed tries for double movement, the ERGS forward’s work rate was impressive as Peter Read, Nathan Cullinan and Daniel Cathro worked incredibly hard around the breakdown, often stealing Rainey ball and carrying securely over the gain line. Nathan Armstrong soon scored his second try of the game as he blasted through the defence once again. The intensity at which the first had was played then began to take its toll on both sides; in the final 10 minutes the larger Rainey players did begin to pressurise the ERGS line, but outstanding tackling from Daniel Johnston, James Bloomfield, Harry Ingram and substitute Andrew Johnston-Martin coupled with shear determination to keep the opposition off the score board resulted in a well earned 17-0 victory.
