Sat 5th Oct, 2:30pm. Clogher Valley 2nds 59 – 0
Banbridge III
Easy 59-0 win for 2nds against Banbridge 3rds by Bob Beatty
This was a stroll in the park for Andy Breens second string.
Out of retirement came Stephen Bothwell and Mark Robinson and with Ryan Wilson packing down at No 8 and Ali Breen at fullback the side had a 1stxv retro look about it. Cobain touched down after a well organised driving maul with Bothwell adding the extras. A 60 metre snipe by Glenn was rounded off by Robinson and Bothwell again duly obliged. The Breen brothers combined to send Ali scampering away for the best try of the day. As if he had never been away Bothwell took the tally to 21 points on the twenty minute mark. Ali Breen then turned creator to send Wilson over which again Bothwell goaled. The half was rounded off with Wilson creating an opportunity which was finished off by Ian Mulligan one of the clubs promising youngsters. Bothwell completed the set by adding the conversation.
The second half was a short affair. Wilson barged over from a short penalty. Bothwell was wide on this occasion but landed a penalty minutes later to keep the scoreboard ticking over. With McAleer Wilson Cobain and Mulligan making the hard yards scrumhalf Glenn had a field day and got his reward with a touchdown off the back off a good maul. It went ungoaled. Two trademark Ali Breen runs resulted in winger McKeown getting a brace to round off proceedings one of which was converted by the evergreen Bothwell. The ref then called proceedings to an early conclusion to the relief of all. There are harder days ahead for Andy Breen s 2nds but if they can retain this balance of youth and experience it could prove to be a fruitful season.
31 24
Sat 5th Oct, 2:30pm. Kukri Qualifying 1.
C.I.Y.M.S.
31 – 24
Clogher Valley
Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email
1
Valley lose at CIYMS with poor second half performance. 24-31
by Bob Beatty
At the end of this game neither Valley supporters, coaches nor players could believe that they had lost a game that they were so much in charge off generally. CIYMS would probably agree.
The truth is simple; Valley have the game plan and personnel in depth to win most games but they allow other teams to stay in touch through giving away many more penalties than the other Q1 teams. Many are the result of over eager defence but until they reduce the numbers they will not win this league.
Against CIYMS in particular these penalties turned the game. The CIYMS out half finished with 26 points from eight penalties and one conversion. He also missed two other difficulty chances.
Without this contribution CIYMS had nothing else to offer. They were out scrummmaged, out thought in the line out and lost the key contact at ruck and maul. But they managed to stay in the game using the small amount of possession well to drive Valley back on the defence with astute kicking and by slowing down the Valley ball.
Valley started well and were ahead after 1 min with a Best penalty after Valley pushed CIYMS of their own scrum. Best added a further penalty after 5 mins. Valley then give away their first penalty to allow CI to close the gap with a kick in front of the posts.
Valley returned to the attack but after 12 mins were turned over and a returning clearance kick by CI was knocked on in the Valley 22 for a scrum. Valley disrupted the scrum well but when the CI scum half fed their open side flanker he was able to waltz though poor Valley tackling to score under the posts. The conversion was successful and CIYMS led 10-6 very much against the run of play.
Valley continued to attack with the forwards making good yardage with pick and go and driving mauls. In the 23rd minute No 8 Sharkey, who was Valley man of the match, picked up from a scrum inside the Valley 22 and broke through the CI defence on a 40 m run. When stopped he off loaded to the supporting Best who released winger Ellis to run in from 30 metres. The kick was missed but Valley were back in front 11-10. Valley added a further 3 points on 26 minutes when awarded a penalty in front of the posts though this was quickly cancelled out by another CI penalty.
As half time approach Valley’s driving maul punched holes in the CI defence and it appeared outhalf Speers, who had a good game, had scored under the posts only to find the referee had blown his whistle for foul play by the CIYMS flanker which saw him shown a yellow card. Best converted the penalty and Valley led 17-13 at the interval.
It seemed that Valley, who had played against the wind and the slope in the first half had the game under control. However from the restart they handed the initiative to CIYMS when they knocked on the kick off, twice, and then gave away a penalty in front of the posts for CIYMS to close the gap to one point.
Valley pressurised the kick restart and eventually won a scrum on the 5 metre line. The Valley pressure in the scrum was such that they were awarded a penalty try, converted by Best to lead 24-16 after 47 mins.
But with the hard work done Valley imploded. They continued to dominate the forward exchanges but at regular intervals they gave away penalties which were punished and CI clawed their way back to a 7 point winning margin with five penalties and fifteen unanswered points with ten minutes to go.
Valley threw caution to the wind and played some marvellous off-loading rugby by forwards and backs. Unfortunately the last pass was dropped or wrong options taken when in good scoring positions and CI clung on to win 31-24.
Next week Valley are away to UUC in the Junior Cup. The 2nd XV had a superb 59-0 victory against Banbridge 3rds
