Lisburn beat injury stricken Enniskillen

At Blaris last Saturday the Smiley Monroe sponsored Lisburn beat Enniskillen by twenty points to nil but were unable to put in the killer score at the end which would have given them a valuable bonus point.

Nevertheless, the win puts them up with joint leaders Ballyclare, though the latter have a game in hand. Most of the game was played in very wet conditions which made for many errors but yet it was entertaining for those who made it to the touchline.

Enniskillen were unfortunate to lose two players to injury in the middle of the first period and this led to an almost automatic conclusion to the result. However, the thirteen man ‘Skins played their hearts out and ran the ball at every opportunity against the home team. It was only because of their strong defensive platform that Lisburn were able to keep them out on numerous occasions and by the time the half time whistle arrived Lisburn only had a lead of three points, thanks to a well-struck penalty from fullback Mark Crowe.

Lisburn started the second period in determined mood. They had been prone, in the wet conditions, to try and make progress through the boot but this was only giving the ball away to the Enniskillen back line who used it as their key attacking weapon. However, another injury to one of the Enniskillen players reduced them to twelve and Lisburn at last began to mount the scores through running.

Firstly, outhalf Ross Edgar collected a towering kick and fell over the line for a well taken try and this was followed on the twenty minute mark when, after winning a lineout, the ball was moved through the backs and when outstanding number eight Stuart Evans joined the line he was able to throw a defence breaking overhead pass to winger Nick Kennedy who ran in for the score. With ten minutes still on the clock the third score arrived through a fine David Gilkinson break, his third try in as many games, and once again Crowe converted with a magnificent kick to bring up 20 points. While the Lisburn support now urged the team on for a bonus try in the closing minutes, it was not to be. This was another win for Lisburn which keeps them in contention with Ballyclare, Omagh and Grosvenor in the top half of the table, despite Enniskillen’s injury woes. Next Saturday they travel to Armagh for a Conference League game. Lisburn’s 2nd and 3rd teams were also at home last Saturday to Enniskillen 2s and Lurgan 2s and both came out with big wins, Lisburn 2s 69 Enniskillen 2s 3 and Lisburn 3s 34 Lurgan 2s 17.