Comprehensive win and never as close as scoreline suggests.
After last year’s two League encounters between the sides, Clogher Valley were taking nothing for granted when Donaghadee visited The Cran. Last season Valley managed to win both games by a narrow five point margin. 22-17 away and 14-9 at home.With both teams having a similar record this year, it was always going to be a closely fought affair.
The Valley forwards were quicker to settle and gained the upper hand in the set pieces. A period of Valley pressure resulted in a lineout in the Dee 22. A drive by the forwards was held up and Valley were awarded the five metre scrum.The Dee forwards collapsed and conceded a penalty. Valley skipper BJ Wilson elected to re-scrummage and when the Dee scrum disintegrated, the Referee ran under the posts to signal a penalty try. Out half Paul Armstrong converted to give Valley a 7 – 0 lead after 18 minutes.
The visitors came more into the game but good Valley defence led by Baxter,Wilson and McKenna kept them out.Centre Willie Stafford was yellow-carded but Barker missed the penalty and the score remained 7-0 at half time.
Valley began the second half with the forwards carrying good ball. Keys powered forward before a high tackle brought a penalty to Valley. Armstrong kicked to the corner for the lineout which Dee knocked forward to give Valley a scrum in a good attacking position.Bates fed Armstrong who made the initial break before offloading to Stafford. Dee came over the top and Armstrong kicked the penalty to extend the lead to 10 – 0.
Back came the Valley forwards from the kick-off and Keys and Sharkey made the hard yards before Bennett was held up on the line. Bates popped to Wilson who powered his way over for Valley’s second try. Armstrong converted for 17 – 0.
Moore and Baxter were replaced by Greaves and Primrose but the Valley forwards continued to provide good ball for the influential Bates to orchestrate proceedings from scrum half. A superb tackle and turnover by McKenna was snapped up by Bates and full back Chris Dynes kicked deep into the Dee 22. Winger Clive Donaldson was quickly up to smother the Dee recipient who didn’t release .Bates took a quick tap penalty and Bennett and Wilson combined to put Armstrong in for a try at the posts. Armstrong converted his own try to bring his personal tally to 14 points out of Valley’s 24 – 0 scoreline.
Just when thoughts were turning to a bonus-point try, Valley seemed to loose concentration. The visitors capitalised on the Valley complacency in the final ten minutes to score trys through Millar and McKenzie, one of which Barker converted to leave the final score 24 – 12 to the home team.
A large crowd is anticipated at The Cran on Saturday for the local derby Junior Cup semi-final against Enniskillen. Kick off 2.30pm. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early and observe local parking restrictions.
