Clogher Valley Youth teams had mixed fortunes on Saturday. The Under 15s drew 5 – 5 with Cavan .Dean Robinson scored a late equalising try. The Under 17s will be wondering how they lost a League decider against Cavan in a game which they dominated from start to finish. After a scoreless first half , some poor Valley tackling allowed Cavan to score two breakaway trys from their own half to lead 14 – 0. Valley controlled the rest of the game but could only manage two unconverted trys by out half Fleming Agnew. Poor decision making by the forwards denied the backs any possession and the game finished 10 – 14 to the visitors. CLICK HERE for the U13, U15 & U17 Action Shots Big shout for Professional Photographer S. Hetherington!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Valley Under 19s are still without the services of influential Captain Paul Armstrong who is enjoying a deserved extended spell on the Firsts. They entertained Ballymoney and ran out convincing 30 – 17 winners. Valley try scorers were Josh Coulter, Stuart Coulter, Ian Mulligan, Michael Traynor and Seamus McSorley. Josh Coulter added a conversion and a penalty. The forwards were especially impressive with Henry Millar, Traynor and man-of-the-match Mulligan the outstanding performers.
Ballymoney 17 vs 20 Clogher Valley RFC League
Ballymoney make Valley work for victory in the league 20-17
In the first game of 2013 Valley were immediately having to reorganise due to an injury to Captain BJ Wilson who was forced to leave the field with a suspected broken nose after he had taken the kick off and set up a maul.
With prop Stafford coming on the Valley pack reorganised but from the resultant restart scrum Ballymoney easily pushed Valley of the ball to set up an attack only to be turned over by the Valley defence to clear the danger.
The next 10 minutes was very disjointed with defences on top and both sides struggling to put together any meaningful attacks. Ballymoney had the majority of possession and territory and the only highlight was when Valley prop Bennett picked up a loose ball on his own 22 and brushed aside Ballymoney tackles to reach the ten metre line where the move was carried on well by Valley 2nd row Greaves who took play to the Ballymoney 22. At the breakdown Valley won a penalty, but rather than kick for goal, they opted to kick to touch, where they then lost the resultant lineout. Valley then declined two further penalty chances but could not take advantage of either lineout.
Ballymoney, with the heavier pack, had realised that Valley were poor at defending the rolling maul and started to use the tactic. From a line out on their own 10 metre line they trundled all the way to the Valley 22 where Valley infringed and Ballymoney took the lead 3-0 with the resultant penalty. There followed another period of disjointed play only enlightened by a fine run from the Ballmoney full back after he caught a poor Valley kick and went on a 40 metre run that Valley only stopped by infringing. However Ballymoney missed the penalty kick.
After 20 minutes Valley had flanker Baxter yellow carded for not rolling away at a tackle in mid field. Ballymoney kicked to touch in the Valley 22 and though the lineout was not cleanly won their flanker managed to gather the ball and drive for the line. Though stopped initially Ballymoney continued the drive and scored under the posts for a converted try to lead 10-0.
Valley were struggling to find some form but the game turned in the 32nd minute when the Ballymoney second row was given a straight red card for punching. This seemed to concentrate the Valley minds and they put together a series of plays which saw the ball moved right and left and then back with forwards and backs all involved. Eventually Valley created a three on two out wide and Armstrong went over for a try. The difficult touchline conversion was converted by Galbraith to leave Valley trailing 10-7 at half time.
After the restart Valley continue to find their form. Ballymoney were scrambling in defence but were just holding on. After 49 minutes a good back movement again saw Armstrong make a break and although he was hauled down just before the line Ballymoney did so illegally and their flanker was shown a yellow card. From the resultant scrum Valley drove over the line but was held up. The reset scrum drove again and acting Captain Sharkey was able to dive over for a try. This was converted by Galbraith and Valley led 14-10.
Valley returned to the attack but both scrum and lineout were not functioning on the day. The always dangerous backs, with Valley man of the match Armstrong joining the line on several occasions and making good yardage never had enough clean ball to kill of the game. Valley lost prop Bennett to a back injury but still increased their lead with two fine penalties by Galbraith, who particularly in defence with Best was immense during the game. Entering the last 10 minutes Valley led 20-10 and the game seemed over.
Then with five minutes remaining a careless clearance kick was gathered by the Ballymoney full back that had looked to run every time during the game he had a chance. He set off and poor Valley tackling let him reach the 22 where he passed to the left winger to go over in the corner. The difficult conversion was good and Ballymoney were back in the game at 20-17. From the restart Ballymoney returned to the attack and Valley were hanging off tackles and looking defensively frail. In the last minute Ballymoney were awarded a penalty in front of the posts on the Valley 22. Strangely they elected not to kick or scrummage but ran the ball straight into a wall of Valley defenders who forced a turnover and the end of the game with Valley winners.
The Valley coaches will be concerned that, just as in the Junior Cup final against Ballynahinch, Valley were hanging on in a game that should have been over much earlier. Both sides cancelled each other out but throughout Valley always looked the more inventive and when they put some passages of play together they were at a different level to Ballymoney. Ballymoney did very well playing fifty minutes with 14 players and made Valley work hard for their win.
Next week Valley are at the Cran in the league against CIYMS kick off is 14.30
