Sat 19th Oct, 2:30pm. Kukri Qualifying 1. Clogher Valley 37 – 8 Donaghadee
Wrapped up points before half time.
by Bob Beatty
Valley won this game before half time as Donaghadee were simply blown away with the power of the pack and pace of the backs.
Valley welcomed back the Wilson brothers to the back row after their forceful performance with the 2nds last week and Cobane replaced the injured Orr at hooker. All three were at the forefront of Valley forward momentum throughout the game.
Valley opened the scoring with a penalty by Best after 2 mins and were already causing Dee problems with the interplay between forwards and backs. Last week against UUC this was loose and unstructured, this week Valley were much tighter and more purposeful and had stopped forcing passes.
After 14 minutes Valley outhalf and Donaghadee No 7 went to the sin bin after a scuffle in midfield. This affected Donaghadee more as Valley had the experienced Speer step up from full back and within minutes he had moved a loose ball blind to Stafford who rounded the full back to score Valleys first try in the corner.
From the restart the Valley forwards power punched holes in the Donaghadee defence and slick interchanging with the backs saw them only stopped by a penalty award on the Donaghadee 22. Valley kicked to touch and from line out were awarded another penalty. This too was kicked to touch and the Valley lineout catch and drive eventual led to Bennett going over for a second try.
Valley continued to play some enterprising and attractive rugby but on 30 minutes Donaghadee scored a penalty in one of their first forays to the Valley half.
Both sides had been defending well and Donaghadee had been particularly aggressive in tackles and rucks. Donaghadee had also tried to get their outside backs into the game but the Valley defensive alignment with Dunlop outstanding never allowed them any space. After 38 minutes Valley broke up a Donaghadee attack and when the ball came loose Dunlop kicked forward and won the race to pick up deep in the Donaghadee 22. Though Dunlop was tackled the supporting Donaldson was able to regather and dive over for Valleys third try and Valley led 18-3 approaching half time.
But Valley were not finished, with the last play of the half the rampaging Valley pack again forced turn over ball. With a fine piece of individual skill Bennett athletically picked up a loose ball and released Holme who spotting a gap scythed through the Donaghadee defence and when tackled released a fine inside pass to the supporting man of the match Donaldson to score again. Valley now led 23-3 at half time with a four try bonus point also achieved.
Valley started the second half with another good driving maul and the always prominent Primrose drove over for another Valley try after 46 minutes and a 30-3 lead. From the restart Valley relaxed and allowed Donagadee backs to launch an attack that led to a try in the left had corner. This was to be a consolation.
It was not long until Valley restored the momentum when a rolling maul, which went 25 metres from a lineout, led to Cobane being driven over the line for the final score of the game after 56 minutes. The remainder of the game fizzled out with Valley content to play it out after what had been possibly their best performance this season.
Valley coaches will be happy with the overall performance of the team and how it is developing. However they know that next weeks All Ireland Cup game against Kanturk from Munster at the Cran will need the team to move to another level of performance.
