Valley win local encounter with a big win.
Clogher Valley beat local rivals Enniskillen III with 11 tries as they win
69 – 12. The home side started well keeping the visitors pinned down in
their own 22. Despite stiff resistance from Enniskillen, the Valley
eventually wore them down and the tries started to come. Stan Hamilton
playing at outhalf for the Valley controlled the game and made use of the
strong running Matthew Keys to punch holes in the Enniskillen defence. For
short periods Enniskillen bounced back and reminded the home side that it
wasn’t going to be one way traffic. Dale McCleen playing at centre for
Enniskillen asked questions of the Valley defence with surging runs into the
home sides 22.
The Valley proved to be much too strong for Enniskillen with tries from P
Stubbs, W Stafford(2), P Jennings, S Hamilton(2), A McKeown, M Keys, G Kosy,
M Monteith (2) and conversions from S Hamilton (3) and M Keys(4). This was
the Valley’s day with one of the biggest scores recorded against
Enniskillen. Next week it is back to cup action with a tough encounter
against Limavady away
Valley overcome Newry in a tough encounter.
Valley overcome Newry in a tough encounter. Clogher Valley’s U18 side
travelled to Newry in what turned out to be a bruising encounter but come
away with a 14-10 win. The home side started well testing the Valley defence
with strong probing runs. The heavy pitch suited a forward’s game and Newry
used this to suit their style of play. Poor Valley tackling allowed Newry to
gain a foothold in the visitors 22 and their reward came after 15 minutes
with an unconverted try. Newry led 5-0.
This spurred the visitors on and the Valley increased the tempo of the game.
A lineout at the 10 meter line, was secured by Brendan McSorley and the pack
drove the maul up to the Newry 22. The pack decided to keep the ball
themselves and done numerous pick and go from the base of the ruck. Only
after the 6th phase, did the ball get released to the backs. The ball now in
the centre of the pitch was popped back to the forwards and from 7 meters
out Morgan Whiteside drove over to equal the score. Josh Graham added the
conversion to take the lead 7-5.
The Valley had their tails up and was dominating the contact area. Allan
McKenna’s work rate was outstanding in the loose. Chris Hetherington drove
over the try line from 10 meters out carrying several Newry defenders
hanging onto him. Unfortunately he was unable to ground the ball and the
Valley was awarded a 5 meter scrum. The scrum was solid and Brendan McSorley
picked up at the back of the scum and drove over to double the try score.
Josh Graham duly converted. The Valley led 14-5.
A Newry line out at the Valley’s 10 meter line was stolen by McSorley,
thrown out wide and Dale Hall broke through the initial defensive line. He
was eventually stopped 5 meters out. The 2nd half was a dogged affair. Newry
were not going to concede home advantage and give the Valley an easy win.
McSorley was dominant in the lineout and the loose. Hicks had two fantastic
breaks from the lineout catching the Newry defence unawares and driving down
close to the line. Newry’s pressure eventually found a hole in the Valley’s
defence and they drove over to score their 2nd try. With the score 14-10 to
the visitors, the last 5 minutes was a tense time for the Valley. Shane
Mahoney took a difficult catch and made 30 meters up the wing only to be
bundled into touch by two Newry defenders.
The Man of the Match award had numerous contenders this week, McSorley,
Hicks, Graham, McKenna, Hall but was finally awarded to the ever improving
Mahoney for his tackling, taking high clearance kicks and runs up the wing.
Next up is a tough encounter against Rainey in the Nutty Crust Competition
in Portadown on Wednesday night; ko 7.45pm
