Ballynahinch 2XV – 2 tries, 1 conversions, 1 penalties, 0 drop goals.
Clogher Valley 1XV – 4 tries, 3 conversions, 0 penalties, 1 drop goals.
Conference League
After their disappointing exit from the Junior Cup at Coleraine last week, Clogher Valley maintained their push for The Conference League Title with an excellent win at Ballynahinch.
Valley Captain Sharkey opened the scoring when he snaffled up loose ball on the ‘Hinch ten metre line and set off on an arcing run to outpace the home defence to score half way out. Best added the points. In an evenly contested first half, ‘Hinch scored an unconverted try to leave the score 5 – 7 at half time.
Wayne Lyons,who went on to win the- man- of the-match award, scored Valley’s second try. Out half Best chipped over the advancing ‘Hinch defence and Lyons dotted down near the posts.Best’s conversion made it 5 – 14 to the visitors.
‘Hinch lost a man to the sin bin but despite the disadvantage, narrowed the gap to 12 -14 with a converted try.
Valley debutant Willie Stafford was on the end of a clever Lyons cross kick to score Valley’s third try which went unconverted. ‘Hinch closed the gap to 15 – 19 with another penalty but Valley were to have the last say when Andy Creaney expertly picked up a loose ball near the ‘Hinch line to score an opportunist try Best added the points and a last minute drop goal to leave the final score 15 – 29 to the visitors.
It’s back to Kukri Qualifying League action on Saturday when high-flying, unbeaten Donaghadee are the visitors to The Cran for the game of the season to date. A large crowd is expected for the 2.30 pm kick off.
Clogher Valley 2XV – 8
versus Ballyclare 2XV – 7
Clogher Valley 2XV – 1 tries, 0 conversions, 1 penalties, 0 drop goals.
Ballyclare 2XV – 1 tries, 1 conversions, 0 penalties, 0 drop goals.
Single-point victory
Valley Seconds maintained their push for League honours with a hard-fought one-point victory over Ballyclare at The Cran. Valley opted to play with the elements but,right on cue,the driving wind and rain subsided at 2.30 pm. The greasy ball made it difficult for both teams to play any adventurous rugby. Unforced errors and numerous handling errors did little to warm the hardy spectators who braved the elements.
Philip Holme lifted the gloom with a well-struck penalty after 23 minutes to open the scoring. Poor first phase possession and lack of control of the greasy ball left the scoreboard operator redundant for most of the first half. Ballyclare lost possession on half way and McAuley latched on to the loose ball to kick ahead into the ‘Clare 22. Timmy Moore was up to pressurise the full back and McAuley dived on the loose ball to score in the corner. Holme missed the difficult conversion and the score remained 8 – 0 at half time.
Ballyclare had the elements behind them in the second half and the driving wind and rain returned to make the Valley task all the more difficult.
Poor decision making and bad kicking into the wind added to Valley problems as Ballyclare fought to get back into the game. A loose midfield kick was gathered by the ‘Clare full back and several phases later the Number 8 scored under the posts. The successful conversion brought the visitors to within one point at 8 – 7 just three minutes into the second half.
The Valley defensive effort was immense to deny Ballyclare any further scores. The visitors did have an opportunity for three points but a quick tap was turned over by Valley and the danger was cleared.Ballyclare threw everything to get the winning score. A long range penalty was missed and Valley held out for a single-point victory.
The Seconds travel to Omagh on Saturday for the eagerly awaited local derby.
