Valley Win Junior Cup – Clogher Valley win the Junior Cup for the first time. In a close game against Ballynahinch 2ndXV, the Valley win 22 – 21
When you think of the sporting scenes of success that Fivemiletown has witnessed in the last 3 years it is the superb rugby mentality, that includes the full range of emotions of a community, working hard, having fun and playing top flight!
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Official match report
Clogher Valley RFC 22 vs 21 Ballynahinch 2nds Junior Cup Final
Clogher Valley added to their already impressive CV by winning the Junior Cup against Ballynahinch Seconds at a windswept Ravenhill on Friday night. Ballynahinch had never lost a Junior Cup Final while Valley had been unsuccessful on three previous occasions. It was no surprise that Valley were massive underdogs.
Valley Skipper Barry-John Wilson was determined to emulate his father David who won two Junior Cup medals in the 1980`s with Omagh Accies. He opted to play against the driving wind and rain-a decision which proved very fruitful for Valley as they proceeded to dominate possession and territory in the first half. The forwards set down a marker with a scrum against the head and `Hinch struggled to cope with the pressure. They conceded a number of penalties before Valley opted for a scrum five meters from the line. Another forward infringement lead to a penalty try which Philip Galbraith goaled to give Valley the lead after 18 minutes.
Lawton kicked two wind assisted penalties to narrow the gap to 7-6 after 25minutes but the large Valley travelling support were more than happy with their team`s performance against the wind.
The Valley back row of Wilson, Steven Baxter and Eugene Mc Kenna where winning the battle at the break down, and Rodney Bennet, Philip Moore and Matty Robinson were causing all sorts of problems with their ball carrying.
Constant Valley pressure and persistent `Hinch infringements led to a “team” sin binning when their Number 13 was yellow –carded on 35 minutes. Valley took another scrum against the head and Jimmy Bates broke blind before putting Aaron Best in for a try in the corner. Galbraith`s conversion into the wind fell short. Lawton landed another long range penalty to leave the score 12-9 at half-time.
With the wind behind them in the second half, Valley started in determined fashion to take the game away from `Hinch. Valley were off target with a drop-goal and a penalty before `Hinch took a quick drop-out and the ball was knocked on leading to a Valley scrum. The ball was moved right to Ally Breen on the wing who kicked ahead and won the chase for the touch down. Galbraith`s conversion took the score to 19-9 after 10 minutes.
As the Valley forwards began to tire `Hinch were able to provide quality possession for their talented backline but the Valley midfield/defence was up to the task. Another Galbraith penalty stretched the Valley lead to 22-9 on 20minutes.
`Hinch started to throw everything at Valley and eventually Rodney Bennett was yellow carded. Johnson Stafford came on as a front row replacement and Mc Kenna had to leave the field. The `Hinch pressure began to tell and the forwards drove over for a converted try on 26 minutes. 22-14 with `Hinch in the ascendancy.
When `Hinch tried to run the ball out of their 22 BJ Wilson forced a penalty which Galbraith pushed wide. Willie Stafford replaced Keith Todd on the wing as the game entered the last 10 minutes. Another `Hinch converted try made it a 1 point game but when Bennett rejoined the action, Valley were able to soak up any further pressure and hold on for a well deserved victory.
`Hinch were able to score two converted tries during the Valley sin binning to make it a much closer game than the Valley spectators would have wished.
The Junior Cup has been added to an already bulging Clogher Valley trophy cabinet alongside the Qualifying One, Past Players Cup and Towns Cup, all of which were achieved during one calendar year.
