Skins narrowly beaten in top of the table clash

Dromore 21 Enniskillen 19

Enniskillen were replaced at the top of Championship One by Dromore who came out on the right side of the top of the table clash between the sides last Saturday.

There was an understandable tension between these two rivals who were meeting for the first time this season and it was a test for the players on both sides as to who would handle it the better.

Dromore kicked off with the benefit of a swirling wind but for the first 10 minutes Skins gave as good as they got.

Henry Keys made a number of lineout steals and both sides tackled strongly.

A long range kick by the Dromore scrum-half brought play into the Skins '22 and a resultant scrum saw their No.8 pick up and feed the blindside for their winger to score rather too easily.

Their advantage was compounded by their scrum-half converting the try with a fine kick.

Skins had the better of the next period of play and a penalty was kicked deep into the Dromore '22.

From the lineout Skins set up a maul and then a series of pick and goes.

It was one of the pivotal moments of the game as a try then would have perhaps changed the outcome.

However, Dromore defended well and raised the siege.

Enniskillen stayed well in the game with the front row of Oisin Timoney, Niall Keenan and Matt Graham not giving an inch and the respective defences were very tight.

On a couple of occasions, Skins moved the ball wide to Sam Balfour who almost broke through.

On the half hour mark Angus Keys used good footwork to break through but was unable to get the scoring pass away.

The pendulum then swung Dromore’s way just before half-time when Enniskillen lost key man Matt Graham to injury and also Michael Rooney temporarily.

Soon after Dromore won a penalty and on the stroke of half-time their players and spectators celebrated wildly when they scored a second try in the corner, again converted with a fine kick.

In the second-half Enniskillen had a mountain to climb but they showed great character when they got themselves down the field to the Dromore line and after several attempts, Nathan Cullinan got over for a converted try.

Skins were very much back in the game and the Dromore faithful were getting edgey.

The next score was going to be crucial.

Sadly for the visitors it went to Dromore with their only real attack of the second-half.

The home side crossed the try line again for another converted try.

At 21-7 and with the clock running down Skins' character was again tested.

The Rutledge and Keys brothers, Keenan and Timoney carried hard.

A further series of drives were repulsed but Angus Keys, with his deft footwork, found a way over for an unconverted try to leave it 21-12.

Enniskillen attacked looking for more scores and Neil Rutledge was deemed held up over the line and with the minutes ticking away Dromore cleared their lines.

There was a further twist in an absorbing game when Eddie Keys put James Trotter away and the big centre ran towards the Dromore line.

Before he was pulled down he passed to his centre partner James Ferguson who had run an excellent support line and he had the determination and strength to score in the corner.

Keys converted with an excellent kick leaving two points between the sides but the referee, who had a good game in difficult circumstances, blew the final whistle shortly afterwards.

This narrow victory leaves Dromore one point ahead of Skins but they have to visit Mullaghmeen.

It was an absorbing clash with a high degree of physicality and the result turned on a number of key moments.

Angus Keys was particularly prominent with his try but also his willingness to carry the fight to the home team.