The first XV made it ten points from a possible ten in their first two outings in the Energia AIL Division 2B on Saturday, as they emerged on the positive end of 26-31 score line away to fellow centenary-elebrating Banbridge.
On a balmy day in Co Armagh and in front of a considerable following of Skerries supporters, the visitors started strongly, looking to build on an impressive opening day victory over Navan, and were rewarded after seven mintues, when number eight Peter O'Neill crashed over from close range following a well-worked attacking lineout. Jack Litchfield's conversion made it 0-7, and the tone for the day was set.
As expected from a team who have spent the last last ten+ years in the higher divisions of the Energia AIL, Banbridge had plenty about them and responded with an opening try of their own to close the gap to 5-7.
An elegant dive in the corner from hooker, James Brennan, following a lovely tip-on pass from Mike Branagan, extended the gap to 5-12 but when a purple patch for the hosts produced two converted tries and a ten-minute rest in the sin-bin for Skerries' Sam Deering, it looked like they might kick-on.
A deliberate knock-on in back play evened out the numbers again and gave Skerries the impetus to push for another score before the break and they got their reward when Mike Sherlock made inroads down the right, fed inside to Davey Goodman, who pirhoutted out of one tackle before laying off to fellow winger Rob McKey to finish well and close the gap to 19-17.
The away side carried that momentum into the third quarter and regained the lead when Sherlock showed deft feet and a turn of pace off a neat one-two with O'Neill to touch down under the posts to give Litchfield the easiest of tasks in adding the conversion.
The young out-half had another gimme only a few minutes later when Ronan Mulcahy broke through the defense seemingly out of nowhere and scorched away untouched to make it 19-31 and ultimately provide the crucial score.
Inevitably, Banbridge came again but a couple of big defensive shifts kept them at bay until they secured their bonus point score with five minutes to play. It made for a nervy finish for the traveling Skerries supporters but they held out for a valuable away win.
Among a big squad effort, it was great to see another couple of players mark their first AIL appearances for the club, in Alan O’Connor and Joe May.
Next up for the Linesight and Halligan-O'Connor-sponsored first XV is another trip up the M1 to take on fellow unbeaten outfit, Malone in Belfast on Saturday afternoon.