Pictured – Portadown RFC P6’s
U13’S V LURGAN MATCH REPORT 28/09/13 02/10/20130
It is said that “sport builds character” BUT it also highlights it.
Unfortunately, Portadown Under 13 were at the wrong end of a large scoreline in their final friendly before the league campaign gets under way next weekend.
Fielding a team with only three Year 9 players and with a number of Year 8’s also missing, the 18 boys who travelled to Lurgan had to work extra hard.
Portadown had the territorial advantage most of the match but never capitalised on this. The majority of the tries for Lurgan coming from deep in their own half as the Portadown backs allowed their Lurgan opposite numbers space to play and spread the ball wide. When pressurised Lurgan made errors and Portadown took their opportunities and were back to within 7 points in the first half, with tries from Ross Chambers and Luc Anderson. Lurgan however capitalised on Portadown’s back line not consistently moving forward in defence and missed tackles allowed Lurgan to run a number of tries under the posts. On a positive note the back line kept their shape and movement when in procession of the ball.
The forwards had a better day, dominating the scum, rucking and counter rucking . Portadown won numerous turnover balls against an older and bigger Lurgan pack.
Caleb Irwin slotted in well at 9 working hard to feed the back line and making a couple of important tackles.
The following players showed strong character and determination today;
Year 9:
Peter Douglas
Year 8:
Ryan Neill
Jordan Robb
Marshall Clint
John Megarity
4THS WIN WITH FRENCH FLAIR
02/10/20130 Comments
Monaghan 2’s 7 vs 58 Portadown 4ths
It was very apparent from before kickoff that some of the players and the ref needed to brush up on their geography and that Monaghan wasn’t a mountain range in France.
The fours managed to work out early on in the match that by having the right mix of youth and experience in the right positions would pay dividends. As the experienced front row of Thompson, Caldwell and May engaged against inexperience in the scrum they enjoyed a day in the sun with a solid platform off which Colly Robb’s backs could capitalize.
The backs spent the afternoon playing an open flowing game of rugby that was orchestrated around young Curry allowing him to make it over on four occasions and convert twice. McCullough, the game of thrones extra, wanted some limelight and got a brace while Kenny and Nick saw over the chalk once a piece.
Monaghan did have moments in the second half and managed to get the backs firing but it was too late, even Tommy Bowe’s dad had left as he had seen they couldn’t match the tourists flair.
Alan Robinson had to take over kicking duties towards the end and improved the percentages with the boot. He was however concerned when he saw Thompson run 35 yards, through a ruck and Robinson decided to score a great individual showstopper of a second try before the ref blew. Final Score 7-58
The tourists then took to the french cuisine and local vineyards samples courtesy of the front row who also brought his passport.
3RD XV DEMOLISH BALLYMONEY 02/10/20130 Comments
Portadown 3rds 62 v Ballymoney 3rds 12
Tries
R Davies 2
Simon Adams 2
Colin Lawson 2
J Hampton 1
S Graham 1
D Hardy 1
N Cully 1
Cons
C Lawson 7
After the previous weeks defeat to Armagh, Portadown’s intentions from the first whistle were very clear that they were not going to be defeated on home turff. Ballymoney’s defence proved strong in the first quarter to keep the mighty blues at bay but eventually that was to be broken when through quick hands in the mid field and a miss pass by the Portadown 2nd row give Simon Adams a great opportunity to score in the corner. This was the break that needed to open the game up. A mistake by the Portadown back line give Ballymoney a try scoring opportunity which they took well and scored under the sticks. Portadown were over 30 points going into the break, the second half started off as the first half ended with all the possession and all the play, Ballymoney heads were down and the blues scoring machine could not be held. Towards the end of the game Colin Lawson was in for a try but unselfishly passed to Dean Hardy to bring the score line to 62 points, afterwards in the changing rooms Colin Lawson was overheard whispering that he didn’t want to get caught for a bottle of Port….
Great all round performance and we are looking for a same performance against Coleraine this weekend.
