Armoy off to a winning start

Previous encounters were always tough and this match was no different but in the end it was a home win by 13-5.

Armoy kicked off with a stiff breeze behind them and on 10 minutes were awarded a penalty for offside.

P Kerr stepped up and slotted over the kick for a three nil lead.

Soon after the visitors were caught offside and again P Kerr kicked a long penalty to increase the lead to six points.

With the visitors pinned in their own 22 metre area it was Christie who drove for the line with Bartlett in support.

Tackled just short of the line, Bartlett fed the ball to R Shannon who barged over for a popular try which P Kerr converted.

This was the last score of the half although Armoy came close with good runs from Kelly and McMullan being stopped short of the line.

Facing the elements it was Armoy who found themselves pinned in their own half as the stiff breeze seemed to increase and any clearance kicks not making much ground.

From a succession of defensive scrums the visitors were awarded a penalty ten metres out, which they decided to run.

The ball was passed to their huge second row player who proved to be unstoppable as he crashed over the line for an unconverted try. From this point on Armoy were on the defensive with Derry laying siege to the home line.

However the defence held out and it was a relieved Armoy team which celebrated their first three points of the season.

Next Saturday it is another home match with the opponents being Derry YMCA and captain G Christie is appealing for a full team out at training on Monday and Wednesday night.