A tough morning for our 1st XV boys as they exit their 2020 Schools Cup run at the quarter final stages away against Wallace High School. A superb display of commitment and unrelenting effort saw the boys come back from a 19-0 deficit in the last quarter of the game with two tries from No.8 Callum Smyton. Final score 19-10.
Wallace 1stXV vs ERGS match report
22 February 2020
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-final
Enniskillen had to travel, once again, for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-final against the favourites, Wallace High School in Lisburn. The two schools had a high scoring encounter earlier in the season in which Wallace scraped a single point victory but the stormy conditions suited neither Wallace’s strong back line nor ERGS’ open, off-loading game so it came down to two packs arm wrestling for a place in the semis.
Wallace got the first break when an Enniskillen mistake let the home side establish a foothold in the ERGS 22m zone. Wallace did an excellent job of retaining possession and after 14 phases of play Cameron Doak forced his way over for a try which his brother, Nathan, playing at out half, converted.
The visitors settled down and for a full 15 minutes Wallace were forced to defend inside their 22m line. ERGS ran multiple phases, innumerable pods, crash balls and grubbers in an effort to break through but the home side defence was incredibly resolute. With so many carries there were inevitable handling errors in the wet and windy conditions and Wallace eventually broke free for a brief spell before ERGS worked their way back up and continued their assault. Despite many significant carries by Aaron Crawford, Neil Rutledge, Michael Rooney, Callum Smyton and captain, Robbie Mills, the half time whistle blew with Wallace standing defiant in their dead ball area and ERGS on the 5 metre line wondering how they could have failed to convert all that possession, (69%), into points.
This turned out to be the key period of the match. Enniskillen’s failure to cross the line, falling inches short on numerous occasions, must have caused great frustration. Wallace played with more confidence in the early period of the second half and moved the ball wider, making significant gains. ERGS were less accurate, losing two crucial line outs which resulted in two Wallace tries and a lead of 19 points. The first came from Finn Rankin who scored under the posts to allow Doak an easy conversion. The second by Peter Heasley, the left winger, who went in at the corner for an unconverted try.
Although young, Enniskillen are a match hardened side and they returned to their task, forcing Wallace to defend once again. Fresh legs from the bench gave them increased impetus and the try that had been so elusive for so long finally came. Defending is much more tiring than attacking and under ERGS’ relentless onslaught, the Wallace defenders were looking a little less sharp as the game progressed. A quick pass from scrum half, Matty Bothwell, found outside centre, Stephen Balfour, who drew two defenders before managing a wonderful off load to Smyton as he went down in the tackle. Smyton made no mistake with the try and ERGS reduced the deficit by 5 points.
With less than 10 minutes of the game remaining Wallace did their best to hold onto the ball and close out the match but tired limbs led to mistakes. ERGS took full advantage and keeping the ball in hand through many phases, made their way back into the Wallace half. A good break from Rutledge saw the lock almost escape his pursuers before Smyton handed off two defenders and stepped inside the full back for his second score of the day. The conversion from out half, George Foster, struck the upright, bringing an ironic jeer from the large number of Fermanagh supporters. The referee signalled the end of the contest and a 19-10 victory for Wallace. They go on to meet Cup holders, Methody, in the semi-finals while, for Enniskillen Royal, it is the end of the 2020 season.
This was ERGS’ second successive quarter-final loss and the 17 members of this 23 man squad who come back next year will fully expect to go a couple of steps further. However, the loss of those 6 players, Robbie Mills, Aaron Crawford, Neil Rutledge, Michael Rooney, George Foster and Albert Gauley, who have contributed so much to ERGS’ most successful season for many years, will not be easily made up.
ERGS Try scorer:- Callum Smyton (2)
Good luck to Wallace as they proceed, as one of the the final 4, to their Semi Final.
