Enniskillen Skins 54 Bangor 10 

Enniskillen took to the field last Saturday against one of the teams expected to challenge for honours this season.

Bangor, who were relegated from AIL Rugby last season, had a very physical pack and a reputation for moving the ball wide– so there was much anticipation on the sidelines that this would be an attacking game and the crowd was not to be disappointed. 

Fielding a team which welcomed back Captain James Ferguson, Henry and Eddie Keys, but missing the injured George Foster, Daire Hill showed his versatility moving to fullback seamlessly.

Skins kicked off with a very strong wind at their backs. In the opening minutes it looked like Skins would score first when they crossed the line from a lineout maul but they unfortunately lost possession.

Another foray into the Bangor 22, following a great run and kick into space by Trotter, was also fruitless.

Bangor were defending very well and, with the aid of a couple of penalties, found themselves within sight of the Skins’ line.

A number of Bangor drives were repulsed by very strong and aggressive Skins’ defence near the line but ultimately the Bangor left wing managed to squeeze in at the corner. The try was unconverted.  

With a quarter of the game gone and playing into the wind, Bangor were much the happier team. From the restart, Skins were composed and worked their way into the game.

A lick to touch and a lineout maul set up an attacking platform from which Michael Rooney powered over. Eddie Keys converted for Skins to take the lead at 7-5.

Enniskillen then started to turn the screw on the visitors From the kick-off, they drove at the heart of the Bangor defence, gained ground from a penalty that followed and set up a ruck in the 22, from which Henry Keys scored.

Sensing a drop-off in Bangor’s intensity, they followed this up with the first of two tries by Keenan.

The first from a lineout maul and the second shortly after when, from the restart, Eddie Keys launched a ‘Garryowen’ which will have endangered low-flying satellites and had the Bangor defence in disarray.

With the conversion, the scoreboard showed Skins leading 28-5 at half-time. The rain forecast thankfully did not arrive but the strong and blustery wind remained for the second half.

The County Down side will have expected to benefit from this but the Skins’ captain, James Ferguson, effectively snuffed out hope of a dramatic comeback with a line-break and blistering run down the right touch-line from the kick-off.

He was tackled on the 22 but Skins support cleared out the ruck for Angus Keys to release brother Eddie for another score.

Within minutes of the restart, Skins were back on the attack and Sam Balfour got a well-deserved try on the right wing.  

Bangor now trailed 40-5 but fought back to spend the next ten minutes in the Skins’ half and on the attack. Time and again the home side’s defence held firm, with Mattie Graham and Andy Dane to the fore in the tackle count.

Enniskillen eventually lifted the siege, with a long kick downfield. From that Rooney, Neil and Jack Rutledge were making yards, before Keenan broke free on the 22, fed Ferguson who off-loaded to Angus Keys to score.

Cullinan and Timoney had come on to bring fresh legs to the forward carries and Tim Harte did likewise on the left wing, making a number of very good tackles as the last man in defence when Bangor played it wide, as they often did. 

A good kick and chase by Ferguson from deep in Skins’ territory, saw them back on the attack. Mattie Dane released a sumptuous backline movement involving Steve Balfour, and Hill that saw Ferguson put Sam Balfour away for his second and Skins’ eighth try. Keys converted to make it seven kicks from eight, in very difficult wind conditions.  

The game finished with Skins attacking again but a turnover on the Bangor 22 allowed the visitors to score their second. The unsuccessful conversion was the last play of a very entertaining game due to the performances of both sides. 

This was a victory based on desire, skill and stamina, with each of the 18-man squad contributing to a very fine team performance in both attack and defence. 

The 2XV backed this up with a strong win against Bangor 2s (34-5), also at home. 
Next Saturday the 1st XV is at home to fifth-placed Portadown in the League. Kick-off at 2.30pm.