Enniskillen 23
Limavady 17
AFTER a run of three straight defeats Enniskillen returned to winning ways on Saturday with a bonus point victory over Limavady at Mullaghmeen.
The two teams, both sitting at the lower end of the league table, were meeting for the second time this season, with Limavady ending Skins Junior Cup challenge back in September.
The home side started with Alan Wilkinson at out-half with captain Ricky Connor reverting to the more familiar no 9 shirt.
Skins started better than in previous weeks and ran some good lines in the opening minutes.
Their play was rewarded after ten minutes when Michael Law got the ball in space and beat several Limavady defenders to bustle over the line for a fine try.
Limavady then proceeded to take the fight to Skins in the forwards, stealing a few lineout throws and bringing their ball-carrying forwards into to play as often as possible.
Skins defence held firm and gradually the home team started to work its way out of defence.
David Taylor carried successfully on a number of occasions but it was Wilkinson who put Skins in an attacking position with a good kick which found touch ten metres from the Limavady line.
The second try came following a solid scrum from which Taylor picked up and fed Connor, who timed his pass to perfection to put McCleery in for a try in the corner.
Back came Limavady and it was the visitors who played out the remainder of the half in Enniskillen territory. Just on the stroke of half-time the Limavady centre scored following a short penalty move to leave the score at the break 10-7.
Limavady started the second half well and took play again into the home 22, but good home defence resulted in a penalty.
Following a good kick downfield, Skins worked the ball well for Holden to score their third try which again was unconverted.
Skins had to play the entire second half without McCleery who had to leave the field, but managed to maintain their momentum scoring a fourth, bonus point try to make the score 20-7 midway through the second half.
A determined Limavady side fought its way back and following a period of pressure reduced the Skins lead to 20-12 with an unconverted try.
With 10 minutes remaining a good piece of continuity took play into the Limavady 22 and when Skins were awarded a penalty, O’Callaghan was successful with the kick to increase the Skins lead to 11 points.
The visitors completed the scoring with a further unconverted try to leave the final score 23-17 to Enniskillen, who finished the match with 13 men after prop Warrington was yellow-carded.
To get a win and a bonus point from such a hard-fought contest was a real fillip for Skins,coach Alasdair McKee and President Pat Cassidy.
The players showed the benefit of a weeks good training and look forward to the next series of games. Their next game is away to Strabane on Saturday in the league.