1sts won 25-10 Towns Cup at Lisburn. 2nds won 41-0 at Dromore in Crawford cup and U19’s won 22-5 in league at Enniskillen
Dromore 2nds 0 vs 41 Clogher Valley 2nds
Crawford Cup 2nd round
Valley 2nds power into Crawford Cup quarter finals
Clogher Valley 2nd XV powered into the quarter final of the Crawford Cup, following a 41 point victory over Dromore at the county Down venue, with the referee calling an end to the match 20 minutes early.
Valley were dominant from the outset, and were rewarded after 5 minutes when full back Dynes fed winger Creaney on the Dromore 10 metre line, and the winger outsprinted the defence to score. Out half Holme added the conversion to make it 7-0 to Valley.
The ensuing 15 minutes was one of fustration for Valley, with at least two try scoring chances passed up and the home side’s repeated infringements at the breakdown leading to stern words for the Dromore captain by the young referee (who performed very capably throughout).
On 20 minutes, Holme added a penalty to the Valley total to extend the lead to ten points.
This seemed to galvanise Valley who upped their game and killed the match off in a fifteen minute flurry before half time. First, second row Trimble appeared on the shoulder of Holme, following a lineout on the home team’s 22, to power through the Dromore defence, with Holme adding the conversion to increase the lead to seventeen points. Then a strong Valley scrum saw No. 8 McLennan score a further try following a rehearsed back row move. A conversion from Holme brought the score to 24-0 in Valley’s favour. As half time approached, a desperate attack from Dromore led to a loose pass on the Valley 10 metre line which was gratefully accepted by McLennan, who outlasted the chasing defenders to score his second try. A good conversion by Holme brought the score to 31-0 to Valley, and half time was reached.
The second half began as the first finished, with Valley pressing on the Dromore 22. With seven minutes gone, a good scrum from Valley saw captain Greaves thunder over for a try after another back row move. The score was unconverted to leave Valley leading 36-0. More pressure from Valley led to another try, this time from scrum half Glenn who surged forward into Dromore 22, with the Valley pack arriving en masse to push him over the Dromore line. After the conversion was missed, the referee brought matters to an early conclusion.
A good team performance with every player making a contribution to the victory. Valley were particularly effective in their back five, with Trimble causing destruction in the loose, McLennan providing tireless and effective support to all of the Valley attacks, and captain Greaves a great lineout leader and general presence in the loose. It was also good to see Baxter make a return in a Valley jersey,at number 7, in a very encouraging performance. Behind the pack, the backline always looked sharp and dangerous, and were well served by half back pairing Glenn and Holme. The evidence of training by the team is paying off and with continued commitment anything is possible for the 2nds in cup and league as the season enters the home straight.
