Clogher’s charge curtailed
by Roger Corbett
With two wins already, Clogher Valley came to Upritchard Park hoping to extend their lead at the top of the league. However, a determined Bangor forced the visitors to make mistakes that proved costly, leading to a home win by 14-12.
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The visit to Upritchard Park by Clogher Valley, the current and high scoring league leaders, was eagerly anticipated by both sides. Having come close against Portadown, Bangor were keen to build on their performance against another top level team. By their own admission, Clogher regarded this game as their first real test and were anxious to stamp their authority on the league. However, a determined team performance by Bangor saw them finish narrowly ahead, winning by 14-12.
Bangor got the game going, playing with the wind at their backs. Right from the start, Bangor were on the attack with good movement between the two centres Mike Aspley and Jason Morgan, and within minutes had won a scrum well inside the Clogher twenty two. Given the larger size and weight of the Clogher pack, this was an area that was going to be a challenge for the home side. However, the combination of Bangor’s technique and determination forced Clogher to concede the first penalty of the day, right in front of their own posts. Mark Thompson stepped up and stroked the ball over to put Bangor ahead by 3-0.
Clogher restarted and began to find their feet. However, their handling was another matter, and many chances went to ground, returning possession back to Bangor. Thompson was kicking well from hand, and used the wind to good effect. With 11 minutes of play gone, the ball was kicked downfield and over the heads of the Clogher backline. Mike Weir gave chase and managed to tackle the Clogher player as he kept the ball in play. With good forward support, the ball was turned over and quickly recycled through the backs from one side of the pitch to the other. Good ground was made by Richard Corbett, Mark Widdowson and Jason Morgan and although this move was eventually stopped short of the line, the ball came to scrum half Ricky Armstrong who saw a small gap and dived through to touch down for a try. The conversion attempt from wide on the left was unsuccessful, making the score now 8-0.
Bangor continued to take the initiative, and were rewarded with another penalty some 6 minutes later when the Clogher forwards piled in on a Bangor maul. The kick, however, went wide. Clogher, possibly sensing they had been let off the hook, were coming back strongly, and a further 7 minutes later produced an awesome 20 metre drive that took them deep into Bangor’s twenty two. However, once again their poor handling let them down and Bangor could breathe a sigh of relief.
It was becoming obvious that Clogher’s game was being played right on the edge, resulting in a high penalty count against them. Eventually, after 34 minutes, the referee had seen enough and yellow carded the Clogher centre for repeatedly killing the ball. With the extra man advantage, Bangor now piled on more pressure, and almost immediately won another penalty, this time for hand in the ruck. From 30 metres out, but in a fairly central position, Thompson stepped up for the kick. Agonisingly, the ball went wide.
From the twenty two restart, Bangor simply ran back through Morgan and Davy Charles, but a last minute Clogher tackle was enough to spoil the final pass, and another scoring opportunity was gone.
With the game deep into added time, Bangor suffered a sucker punch. With little pressure, a handling mix-up in the backs gave Clogher a scrum on Bangor’s twenty two. The ball was won and kicked to the left hand corner. Bangor lost the lineout and from the resulting Clogher drive, they forced over for a try. As the conversion went over, and the scores now 8-7, the referee blew for half time.
As Clogher got the second half underway, the fickle Upritchard wind was now blowing across the pitch, with little advantage for either side. With just a couple of minutes gone, winger Mark Widdowson got the ball, kicked into space behind his opposite number and set off in pursuit. Being wrong footed, the Clogher winger had little option but to simply block him. The ball eventually made a good touch, but there may have been more on offer if Widdowson had been able to get through. From the Clogher lineout, they were penalised for crossing. Jason Morgan successfully converted the kick, putting Bangor now 11-7 ahead.
Now back to full strength, Clogher started to take the game to Bangor. After 10 minutes, they won a penalty after Bangor played the ball on the ground. Once again Clogher turned to their favoured tactic of kicking to touch, then looking for a drive. Bangor defended bravely, but on the second attacking wave, Clogher managed to squeeze over for their second try. The kick was missed, but Bangor were now behind for the first time in the match, by 11-12.
It was now Clogher who had their tails up, and enjoyed most of the possession. However, it took another 15 minutes before the next real scoring opportunity came around. The strong Clogher backs eventually found a gap in the Bangor line to send them through with just Mike Weir at full back to beat. With their size and pace, the smart money was on Clogher to power over for a try under the posts. Weir, however, stood his ground and produced a text book tackle to stop the advance in its tracks. In the ensuing ruck, Bangor regained possession and the danger was cleared.
This provided a much needed boost to the Bangor players who now picked up their game and came back at Clogher. Within 5 minutes, they had won another penalty, but some distance out on the right hand side. Morgan’s kick was successful, winning back a narrow lead of 14-12.
With 10 minutes left, Bangor continued to push forward, coming close once more with a good rolling maul, only to be judged to have committed and ‘truck and trailer’ offence just short of the Clogher line. With so little in it, the game saw Bangor try to retain possession and slow things down, while Clogher were trying to pass the ball about to either win a penalty of find a gap in Bangor’s defence. In the end, a loose kick to touch by Clogher marked the last play of the game, and Bangor could celebrate a worthy victory.
This was by no means a faultless Bangor performance, but one that highlighted Bangor’s determination and resolve to fight back when under pressure. The new players continue to grow in confidence and the team is starting to gel as a whole. It is also encouraging to know that there is still plenty in the tank, especially once the remaining errors are ironed out. With the seconds also enjoying a great start in their new league, the whole senior squad is looking to be in good shape.
The next fixture is away to Coleraine, who are currently just ahead of Bangor in the league. Hopes will be high that another good performance will continue Bangor’s great start to the season.
Bangor side: P Dornan, P Whyte, J Harrison, F Black, R Corbett, J Henly, J Clegg (c), C Stewart, R Armstrong, M Thompson, M Widdowson, M Aspley, J Morgan, D Charles, M Weir
Bangor scores: M Thompson, (1P), R Armstrong (1T), J Morgan (2P)
