Clogher Valley RFC I XV Match Report v Dromore RFC I XV
Stuttering performance with last minute try from man of the match Holme seals victory for Valley
CLICK HERE FOR MINI RUGBY ENNISKILLEN BLITZ SHOTS
CLICK HERE FOR U17s v MONAGHAN ACTION SHOTS!!!!!!!!!!
Valley started the game with a number of enforced changes which saw Greaves, Bennett and Ali Breen all return to the side.
They started brightly with a trademark barnstorming run from Bennett but poor retention of the ball allowed Dromore to mount a counter attack which saw them awarded a penalty on the Valley 40m line. The young Dromore scrumhalf took a quick tap and kicked through to an unprotected goal line. However he was impeded by Bates and the referee, who had a good game throughout, had no option but to yellow card Bates and award a penalty to Dromore. With 3 minutes on the clock Valley were 0-3 down and a man short.
Although Valley made light of the one man disadvantage they were struggling to retain the ball in contact with an aggressive Dromore defence standing up well to the Valley forward surges. In truth the Valley pack were playing as individuals rather than a team. There was little support for players in rucks and mauls with too many players opting to stand out for the crash ball. This played into Dromore hands and meant that though Valley had considerable possession, they could make little headway. As the half progressed the Valley line out started to misfire and even the normal superior scrum was under pressure. After a scum against the head only a fine tackle by Holme stopped a certain overlap and possible score.
A defining moment on 20 minutes saved the Valley line. After good movement of the ball by Dromore, and some poor Valley tackling the big Dromore number 8 was sent clear through a gap. It looked a certain try as he was 5 metres out from the posts with only Ali Breen to stop him, a large mismatch! Somehow Breen, using all his experience, not only managed to stop the No 8 but he stripped the ball and Valley were able to clear the danger.
Dromore continued to exert pressure on the Valley defence and missed a number of kickable penalties which would have extended their lead. The Valley backs were having to work hard in defence but were being given little opportunity with the ball in hand as the forwards use of the ball invariably broke down. Dromore were the happy side at half time with a three point lead.
The second half continued as the first with Valley pressing but making little headway. Dromore were content to soak up the attacks and when they got the ball pin Valley back deep in their own half with long kicks from their out-half. Again Dromore missed two kickable penalties, one of which struck a post but went dead. After 58 minutes the influential Dromore No 6 was yellow carded. From the 40m line Holme was able to kick the penalty to leave the game tied at 3-3.
Valley started to play with more width and the gaps in the Dromore defence were being exploited. First McKeown was set free on the left only for his inside pass to a supporting Breen to be picked off by a retreating defender. Then on the right a fine off load by McKenna saw an interchange between Greaves and Stafford just bundled into touch on the Dromore 22. Finally, with less than 5 minutes remaining, Valley managed to score with a try by McKeown which came from nothing. Receiving the ball on the half way line there seemed little threat to Dromore. However McKeown had spotted a gap in-field and when the gap widened he sped through and around the covering defence for a fine individual try. A Holme conversation saw Valley lead for the first time 10-3.
Valley forced play into the Dromore 22 from the restart and after a series of drives were held up over the line. From the resultant scum a back row move saw Sharkey go close. However, somehow, in the resultant ruck Dromore managed to steal the ball. With the Valley defence flat footed they quickly moved the ball wide. Though Valley were scrambling in defence and managed to stop the attack twice there were too many support runners and not enough defenders and eventually Dromore scored on the right touchline. Unfortunately for Dromore the difficult kick went wide. However with 1 minute on the clock they still had an opportunity.
From the restart McKenna was able to reclaim the ball. However he had no support and was penalised for not releasing. Dromore took the quick penalty. However this time the Valley defence was ready and the ball carrier had the ball dislodged. The ball bounced clear to Bates who spotted a slight gap on the left touch line and grubber kicked through. The retreating Dromore defender, in his own 22, was enveloped by three Valley players and the ball was turned over. Valley quickly moved the ball wide and with slick passing Holme was able to run in under the post to seal a Valley win. With his own conversation Valley had won 17-8.
Valley deserved to win overall but Dromore made them work hard throughout the game and deserved at least a losing bonus point, denied by the last minute try by Valley. Next week Valley play Coolmines in the first round All Ireland Junior cup game. They will have to improve, particularly their forward play, if they are go through to the next round. The game is at The Cran with KO at 14.30 and a large crowd is anticipated.
U17 beat Monaghan
The U17 team follow up their win over Enniskillen with a 4 try win over Monaghan.
Clogher Valley’s U17 side followed up their win against Enniskillen with another convincing match over their close rivals, Monaghan. The visitors came out of the starting blocks quickly, but could not capitalise on their advantage. The home side then dropped into their routine of forwards making the hard yards and creating the space for the backs to stretch their legs. As with the previous matches this season the fast rucking of the forwards helped to give the backs the advantage. First half tries from scrum half Johnny Bolland and flanker Morgan Whiteside and a conversion from winger Doogan, gave the home side a 12 – 0 lead at half time, which did not reflect the dominance of the Valley team
This dominance continued into the 2nd half, with Brendan McSorley cleaning up in the lineouts, David McConnell and Chris Hetherington made surging runs through the Monaghan pack testing the defence. At outhalf, Flemming Agnew controlled the backs and found holes in the visitors defence with his own darting runs. The Valley added two more tries from skipper Brian McKeown and Ryan McMaster, before lack in concentration allowed Monaghan in for a consolation try.
