Last night’s opening match in the 32nd Annual Nutty Krust floodlit tournament saw the host club’s U 19s finish as convincing first round winners against last year’s beaten finalists Coleraine in an exciting encounter.
The host’s intentions were clear right from the kick off as they regained possession of out half Robert Thompson’s kick and laid siege to the Coleraine line resulting in a try scored by full back Dale Conn. The conversion was missed but further Portadown pressure resulted in a penalty converted by out half Thompson to stretch the host’s lead to 8-0.
Coleraine seemed to be galvanised by this and hit back through a try by their impressive centre Chris Barber created by out half Paddy Mc Combe to narrow the gap to 8-5. Both sides continued to play attacking positive rugby and it was the locals who scored next to stretch their lead. A strong break by centre David Busby, whose strong running caused panic throughout the match in the Coleraine ranks, was stopped just short of the visitor’s line. From the resulting scrum Portadown, and Ulster number 8, Luke Montgomery made a powerful surge and popped the ball off to centre Chris Cousens to score close to the posts. Out half Thompson added the conversion to extend Portadown’s lead to 15-5.
In keeping with the pattern of the match Coleraine then controlled the ball keeping the Portadown line under pressure. Unfortunately for them in one attack their influential out half, Paddy Mc Combe, badly injured an ankle and had to be taken to hospital. This, added to the earlier loss to injury of wing James Wikinson should have seen the end of Coleraine’s challenge. It proved to have quite the opposite effect however as further pressure from the visitors led to a second score for them just before half time. Unfortunately the conversion was missed thus leaving the half time score 15-10 in the home side’s favour.
Coleraine started the second half strongly but a well organised Portadown defence held them out. In Portadown’s first attack of the half a flowing backline move resulted in a second try for Man lf the Match Chris Cousens. Out half Thomson added the two points to stretch Portadown’s lead to 22-10. Once again Coleraine’s “never say die” attitude saw them pressurise the Portadown line and only an adjudged forward pass kept the host’s line intact. A superb break by the host team’s centre Cousens from his own 22 metre line took play deep into the Coleraine half and led to the final try of the game by blindside flanker Josh Mc Cullough.
Outstanding for the visitors were No 8 Jamie Liken, out half Paddy Mc Combe and centre Chris Barber. For the locals prop Robert Morton, openside flanker Stuart Lynes, who won a lot of good lineout ball, and centres Busby and Cousens gave strong performances.
Portadown now face the winners of next week’s match between this season’s U 19 League winners & All Ireland semi finalists, Malone and League runners up Ballynahinch in the second round. This promises be to be another excellent match involving the two form teams in Ulster at the moment. Kick is at 7.45 at Chambers Park next Wednesday (2nd. March).
