1st XV Match Report v CIYMS
Chambers Park was the venue for this weekends top of the table clash between Kukri Qualifying Section One league leaders Portadown and second placed CIYMS. Both teams had been scoring freely all season so the playing surface and calm conditions were perfect for a fast and open game. The Ports new a minimum of 2 points would seal the league title though no doubt they were keen to avenge their only league defeat of the season to date, going down 13-10 at Belmont in November.
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The visitors got the match underway playing towards the clubhouse in front of a large crowd and probably had the better of the earlier exchanges. David O’Hara, playing on the wing, nudged the visitors in front with a well struck penalty following a ruck infringement. Portadown struggled to establish any field position and were visibly nervy, misfiring at a couple of early lineouts. It took home fullback Matt Maguire to lead his team out of defence with a scintillating 80 yard run leaving most of the visiting defence in his wake. Only a last ditch tackle preventing him from scoring a fantastic individual effort. This was to be the catalyst for the home team to push on. The Portadown scrum was eventually given an opportunity to show its worth as they comfortably pushed their opponents over from 10 metres out. Captain Stuart Lamb dropping on the ball to register the score. Cousens was off target with the conversion. 5-3 to Portadown.
CI weren’t going to give up easily and there was plenty of niggle from the outset of the match. One incident seeing the visitors full back spending 10 minutes in the sin bin for a late tackle on home No8 Lamb. The Ports struck again following some good counter rucking from the forwards. Hooker Malcolm Allister picked and carried forward before the ball was flashed wide to centre Thomas Halliday who ran in from 20 yards carrying a number of defenders over the line with him. Cousens added the conversion from wide on the left pushing the Ports 12-3 in front. It was CI who had the last say of the half with O’Hara knocking over a penalty from 45 metres to make the scores 12-6 to the home team at half time.
The Portadown set piece was starting to really dominate in the second half at both scrum and lineout. Willie Graham and Darren Pepper managing to steal a number of balls on the CI throw starving the visitors dangerous backline of any quick ball . The next score of the game came following a good catch and drive from the Portadown pack. They showed great patience on the CI line and despite some fierce defending,flanker Diarmaid O’Kane managed to squeeze around the side of a ruck 15 yards to the left of the posts. Cousens converted to push the lead out to 19-6. Despite their dominance the home team foolishly let their opponents gain territory through penalties at the breakdown. Referee David Williams had enough and sent home captain Stuart Lamb to the sin bin judging the home defence to have offended one time too many. O’Hara was on target with another penalty soon after to narrow the deficit to 10 points with another great strike.
CI were to strike again shortly afterwards, with scrum half Michael Wilson taking the initiative to tap and go. He chipped in behind the home defence and gathered. The ball was recycled several times leaving CI right on the visitors line. It was Wilson who dived over to score but O’Kane slid in underneath him to hold him up. The referee deemed O’Kanes efforts illegal, awarded a penalty try and sent O’Kane to the bin reducing the home team to 13 men. O’Hara tapped over the extras making it a 3 point game. The Portadown skipper returned from the sin bin shortly after the kick off to help steady the ship. Electing to go for the corner instead of taking the kick at goal, Lamb seemed confident his 7 man forward pack could maul their opponents over the line. CI managed to hold out from the maul but lost flanker Ross Hackney to the sin bin for cynical play. With the numbers in the scrum now even Lambs confidence was justified when the visitors buckled under the pressure of the home scrum and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the second penalty try of the match. Cousens added the final score of the game pushing the home sides lead out to 10 points . Full Time Portadown 26-16 CIYMS. A well deserved victory to the home side which reflected their dominance in the game and sealed the league title for the Chambers Park men who now move forward to the All Ireland play offs. Man of the match went to Portadown prop Mark Neilly who led right from the front all day for the home team.
Team (15 -1) M Maguire, A Chambers, T Halliday, J Holden, R Reid, C Cousens, D Whitten, S Lamb, D O’Kane, G Hall, W Graham, D Pepper, L McClure, M Allister, M Neilly. Subs G McCoy for G Hall, R McClean for M Neilly.
