CIYMS 2nd XV 47 v Clogher Valley 2nd XV 7 24/11/2012
By Michael Chambers · November 26, 2012 · Filed in Match Reports · No Comments »
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Saturday saw the visit of Clogher Valley 2nd’s to Belmont in the Junior League one clash. Having come off the back of two good away wins, the 2nd XV were keen to keep the momentum moving in the right direction with the first home game for a few weeks. Bolstered by a number of returning players who were not available through injury and work commitments, the team, lead by Duncan Gleadhill was a strong one.
Clogher started the better with a number of short runs from rucks coming from their enthusiastic back row. However, in truth they never looked like breaking through a defensive line that was organised and was demonstrating good line speed.
CI had to wait 15 minutes for the first score. From first phase ball, good handling from Neil Wallace, Gareth O’Neill and Ollie Morrison allowed for Andrew Balmforth to be in the right place at the right time to cross in the corner. While Dan McVicar could not add the extras, it was a sign of things to come. The second and third scores were all done up front. Excellent work by Brett Lennox, Chris Davidson, Tom Stevenson and Stuart Hackney at the line out created the platform for Duncan Gleadhill to muscle his way over from the rolling maul, for the first of his two tries.
From then on CI dominated up front. Strong runs from Omar in the loose, followed up with good link play with Morty and Chris Davidson created the platform for Dan McVicar and Stephen Foster to dictate the game with a certain amount of ease. Clogher continued to compete at the breakdown and Ricky Kirkwood was particularly unlucky not to score in the corner on a number of occasions after the rehearsed back moves were well executed.
Ian McWilliams showed why he is under rated in the loose by collecting a lot of short ball from the breakdown and it was his initial break that allowed for Neil Wallace to cross for our last score. His ‘dancing feet’ baffled the Clogher centres from the 3rd phase and he went in under the posts to secure a 47-7 win.
In truth, it could have been more, but with everyone contributing in both the loose and the set piece, a good day at the office for the 2nds and pleasing to put a sequence of good wins together.
Saturday sees the team at Banbridge which will be another tough encounter, but for now, the boys can enjoy a well-deserved victory.
FINAL SCORE: CI: 47 Clogher Valley: 7
CIYMS 13 v Portadown 10 24/11/2012
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CIYMS BEAT THE BLUES
CIYMS welcomed league leaders Portadown to Belmont on Saturday for a highly anticipated Kukri Qualifying League 1 contest.
Portadown had been in a rich vein of form in the run-up to this game, having won all seven of their previous league games. More impressive was that each of those seven wins had been achieved with a try-scoring bonus point for scoring four tries or more. CIYMS on the other hand had shown only glimpses of their top form to date, most recently in securing an away win last week at Ballymoney.
In was one of the fastest starts that will be seen in Ulster rugby this season when CI number 9 Michael Wilson added to his try tally almost immediately off the kick off. Wilson charged down the attempted box kick of his opposite number before gathering and scampering in at the corner. The conversion was missed by O’Hara to leave the score at 5-0 to CI.
Portadown, somewhat riled by the instant five point deficit, then pressured the CI defence with a series of scrums and pick up moves in the CI 22. It was during this period, that CI hooker Matt Brown was sent to the sin-bin following one too many team infringements at the ruck. Bizarrely, Portadown turned down a number of relatively kickable penalty chances opting to go for the corner instead. It didn’t pay off, with handling errors letting the Mid-Ulstermen down on each occasion. CI remained steadfast in the face of the one dimensional pick and drive game offered by Portadown to lead 5-0 at the break.
HALF TIME: CI 5 – 0 Portadown
The second half started with Portadown repeating their tactic of kicking to the corner to set up a lineout and maul. A pattern of forward orientated pressure was sustained in a 15 minutes period that saw CI clear their lines on a number of occasions.
CI back-row McConkey was the second player to be shown yellow and effective work from the resulting penalty and 5 metre lineout saw the Portadown second-row carried over from a wheeling maul. The conversion was added to make the score 7-5 to Portadown.
CI responded and out-half O’Hara made up for an easier penalty miss earlier in the second half to land a long-range effort that edged CI back into a 8-7 lead.
Portadown then resumed their relentless pick and drive tactics modelled on Clogher Valley’s success last year. It was during one of this phases that a tackle and rip by CI Captain Woods on Portadown skipper Lamb saw the loose ball picked up by his CI front-row partner Stuart Ferguson. Ferguson sold a fine dummy to the Portadown out-half before sending a pass out to left-winger Rory Barton who raced in for the score from just inside half-way. The conversion was again missed to leave the score at 13-7.
Portadown responded again with both sets of forwards beginning to tire due to the physical nature of the contest. A CI infringement saw Portadown edge closer with a converted penalty to make the score 13-10 going into the closing stages.
Portadown now sensed blood as they looked to apply pressure for a winning score. They again turned down the option to kick a long range penalty and kicked to the corner. The CI defence rallied once more against the maul and the pack were delighted with their work when the final whistle was sounded.
FINAL SCORE: CI: 13 Portadown: 10
CI will be delighted with their commitment levels in what was a physical game throughout the 80 minutes. Portadown will rue the loss of their unbeaten record but will no doubt remain confident for the return fixture.
CI now look to make best use of their game in hand next Saturday against Donaghadee.
