Five Try Ports Send Roesiders Crashing From Cup
Powerade Towns Cup Round 1
Portadown 41 Limavady 17
The Blue Ribbon event of junior rugby in Ulster got underway at the weekend as the provinces club sides went head to head in the 1st round of the Powerade Towns Cup. A day that always eagerly anticipated by teams from sections two & three, as they aim to pit their skills against section one and senior seconds teams.
This is a competition that has not been very kind to Limavady in recent years as the Roesiders have been continually drawn against section one teams, and this year was to be no different. Portadown are currently sitting fifth in section 1, two sections and 15 league places above the Men from the North West. Nevertheless, Head Coach Paul O’Kane was looking forward to todays battle to see how his young chargers could handle a bigger and more experienced Qualifying 1 team.
As expected it was the home side that made all the early running, but Limavady defended stoutly and restricted the home side to two penalties from out-half Cousens. On a rare furore into the Portadown half, the visitors thought they were back in the game when Jordan fed Hunter who touched down under the posts, but the referee had called play back for a forward pass. This was as close as it got for the visitors in the first half as Cousens added two more penalties as well as an expertly struck conversion to his own try. With half time approaching, Limavady would have settled for being 19-0 down, but on the stroke of half time Ports skipper touched down in the corner for a 24-0 lead at the turnaround.
A stern talking to at the break appeared to have fallen on deaf ears as the hosts scored two more tries in the opening ten minutes of the second half to extend their lead to 36 points to nil. Worse was to follow as out-half Greg Jordan was sinned binned for an infringement at a ruck. At a point in the game when one would have expected the visitors to fold and let Portadown run away with it, the plucky young Roesiders rose to the challenge and went on to dominate the rest of the game.
On 53 minutes Peter Wilson’s great vision saw right wing Robert Lamberton free and his cross field kick was inch perfect for the winger to touch down and get Limavady on the scoreboard. And they didn’t have long to wait for try number two. Jamie Miller combined with Chris Hunter to release Peter Wilson who exploited a gap in the home defence to race clear from halfway to finish under the posts. Peter also added the extras and now the Roesiders started to play with a bit of flare and more confidence.
They further reduced the arrears on 66mins when after winning a lineout in the Portadown ’22’, flanker Daniel Irvine crashed over for his first score of the season. But it was the homeside that had the last word when with the final play of the game, full back Purvis broke through a tired and battered Limavady defensive to touchdown for the hosts fifth and final try of the day. Out-half Cousens’ conversion struck a post which left the final score Portadown 41 Limavady 17.
The seconds didn’t fair much better in their Crawford Cup tie at home to Banbridge 3rds. Despite dominating for larger periods, two break away tries from the County Down Men saw the visitors record a 17-12 victory.
There was however a terrific victory for the Saracens in the 2nd round of the McCambley Cup against Tir Chonail. They recorded a 15-12 win against the Donegal Men who are currently leading Minor League North West.
Next week sees the 1st XV and 2nds XV return to league action. The 1sts entertain Ophir while the 2nds welcome Ballynahinch 5ths. Both games are at the Hunter Memorial Grounds with 2.30pm kick offs.
