A sizeable and very enthusiastic crowd had gathered to watch this entertaining, hard fought, ten try thriller Nutty Krust game, which the City of Armagh U18 team won by 43-21 and which featured quite a few talented players on both teams.
The game was well refereed by Andrew McConville, from the USRFR. The Nutty Krust organising committee is grateful to the USRFR for ensuring all the Nutty Krust games are refereed by members of the USRFR.
The City of Armagh U18 team had built up a 26-7 lead by the break before going on to record their 43-21 victory.
Aeon Laverty, Padraic Carville, Oliver Cornett, Laroslave Padnevici, Tom Kennedy, with two and Elliott Nicholas were the City of Armagh try scorers.
Padraic Carville was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
The Portadown/Lurgan RFC contributed a lot to the game and got some reward for their endeavours when Harvey Creaney, Aaron Cassells and Josh Brownlee each crossed the City of Armagh whitewash to touch down for a try.
Caleb Ruddell was successful with two of his conversion kicks while his halfback partner, Adam Wallace, added a third conversion.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament, the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Flat Dogs Gourmet Food” Restaurant, and organised by Matthew Wickham in serving the food. All the players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Brian Irwin, Director of Irwin’s Bakery, the Nutty Krust sponsors, presented the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post-match ceremony. The Man of the Match Award went to Elliott Nicholas, the City of Armagh FC U18 No 7.
The final of this season’s Nutty Krust Tournament will be played on Wednesday 1st April at Chambers Park when the City of Armagh FC U18 team will play the Dungannon FC U18 team, the current holders of the Nutty Krust Trophy, at 7-30pm.
This Nutty Krust final is expected to be a great game of youth U18 rugby and all visitors and supporters to the game will be made to feel very welcome and are invited to use the Portadown RFC facilities before and after the game.
