Portadown met Dungannon 2’s under lights at Chambers Park on Friday night in wet and windy conditions that did little for the game as a spectacle. The Blues started well and in the opening exchanges bossed territory and possession, several penalty kicks pointed to the home sides dominance in the first fifteen minutes but they couldn’t convert pressure into points. The unforced error count was high on both sides owing to the slippery conditions and Portadown could well point to this for their lack of cutting edge in the final third. Portadown centre Dale Black was harshly binned in the 25th minute which signalled the visitors revival and although they missed the resulting penalty, it wasn’t long before they got their first points on the board – and it was a devastating double try salvo. Firstly the visiting winger slid over after great work through a number of phases and barely five minutes later a good move off the back of an attacking scrum breached the Portadown defence once again leaving the halftime score 14-0 to the visitors.
Portadown regrouped at the break and restored to their full compliment had to chase the game from the off. Centre Gareth Martin was the first to test the visiting defence with a strong break, it looked as though he would make the line after riding a number of tackles but he was eventually hauled down metres short, his midfield partner Black was on hand though to receive the offload and score to bring the Blues back into the game. Conversion missed 14-5. Despite the score Portadown were still on the back foot and Dungannon were next to score. The forward division showing all their worth getting over the line after a strong rolling maul. 19-5. The Dungannon dominance was now clear to see and the Blues had little answer to their game plan. Another score was inevitable and it duly came from an attacking scrum, the Dungannon number eight picking and staying strong to register the try. 26-5. The Blues were hit by a double injury blow late into the second half with both Gareth Martin and Lee Bicker leaving the field of play. Strangely this forced the Blues to continue with only thirteen men, as Ulster Branch rules for this fixture deemed no substitutes allowed. Despite this Portadown played some of their best rugby in the closing exchanges and Lee McAdam scored in the corner to bring the score back to 26-10. Dungannon were hit with two late yellow cards and parity was at least restored on the field of play, the scoreboard however remained the same and the visitors closed the game out for what was a comfortable win.
PORTADOWN 2XV 24 – 23 INSTONIANS 3XV
Portadown made a great start to this game, camped inside the Instonians 22 for first fifteen minutes the Blues showed great patience and resilience against a stubborn defence that looked as though it might hold firm. That was until Wayne Kelly made a defence splitting run to score a superb try that owed as much to the teamwork that went before it as the individual class that brought it about. Instonians came back with a penalty and played good territory rugby before grabbing a try of their own but Johnny Stewart had the perfect riposte for the home side, scoring a great individual effort, picking the ball up on the half way line, breaking through three attempted tackles and sprinting clear to the line. Second half continued in the same vein as the first with good play on both sides. With the score at 16-14 to Instonians Chris Goodland kicked a penalty to put the Blues a point in front. With ten minutes to go an almost copycat try from the impressive Stewart seemingly wrapped up the game, but as Portadown pressed for another score the Instonian winger intercepted a pass to go home under the posts to bring them back to within a point. A late missed penalty attempt from the visitors certainly kept the heart rate up but the Ports ran out deserved one point winners. Johnny Stewart was Man Of the Match for his exemplary display and young hooker Tyler Irwin impressed making his season debut.
PORTADOWN 5XV 26 – 0 NEWRY 3XV
Simon Carey’s much travelled 5ths ran out comfortable winners at home to Newry on Saturday. The first half was a dogged affair with both teams struggling to produce any free flowing rugby and the early exchanges were littered with unforced errors. The Portadown pack were working hard though with Gordy Ford and Simon Carey in-particular trying to bring the game to their Newry counterparts at every opportunity. Newry did miss a couple of penalties before the home side registered their first score. It was the Blues’ first real attack and it was rewarded with a try out wide from winger Lee Mustoe and pointed to where the home side should be focusing their attacking efforts, unfortunately though the advantage couldn’t be built upon and at half-time the score was 5-0. The second half was a better spectacle and Newry buckled under the relentless Portadown pressure. Prop Ryan Hazley crashed over after impressive play through the phases by the forward unit. Centre John Marrion on his return to the side cut a great line to score under the posts despite the attentions of a number of defenders and Manus Lappin was rewarded for his superb support play with a try of his own after a great offload. Andrew Matchett added all three conversions in the second period to bring the final score to 26-0. Newry did have a number of promising attacks but the Portadown defence was a solid unit and gave very little away all day. Impressive on the day were young prop Ryan Hazley – taking his tally to three tries this season and veteran second row and team captain Simon Carey with a real committed display leading from the front.
