U19’S STILL UNBEATEN
09/12/20130 Comments
PRFC U19s continued their unbeaten season with a good result against a strong Ballynahinch side winning 25-19.
This result puts Portadown in an unassailable position at the top of the Ulster league U19s South section and puts the young Blues into the play-offs as top seeds.
Today’s result was one of the harder fought games this season. The young Blues had to come from behind after 10 minutes for only the second time this season when ‘hinch ran in the first try of the game after some poor tackling by the home side. 0-7
Not having played for three weeks the wheels looked a little rusty on the usually menacing U19s machine but as the first half progressed the momentum began to build and Portadown moved the ball nicely through the backs to score in the corner via speedster winger Calvin Chambers. 5-7
Not long after the restart ‘hinch were drawn offside and Graeme Currie stepped up to move his side into the more familiar position of leading the game with a well struck penalty. 8-7
Having shown what they could do once already the 19s backline decided to create a carbon copy of their first score just before halftime and moved the ball nicely to winger Calvin Chambers to notch up his second score. 15-7 at the break.
The second half started much like the first when poor tackling and lack of concentration allowed the visitors to touchdown their second try, 15-12
Play was confined to the middle third for most of the next 20 minutes with neither side giving much away however it was the visitors who yielded first and a period of sustained pressure gave 6ft10’ second row Justin Allen the chance to stretch his long frame and score Portadowns third. 20-12
As you would expect Ballynahinch refused to lie down and kept coming even after the home side clocked up their 4th try 25-12 and the visitors earned a well deserved consolation try on the stroke of fulltime when their scrumhalf ran straight through the Portadown defense from deep inside his own half leaving the final score 25-19.
Some excellent performances came from Jordan Elliott at loose head, Aaron Abraham and Jonny Burns in the back row, Matthew Johnston at 10 and Robert Gacek at 13 but man of the match went to young hooker R.J. Greenlee who has taken the move up to U19s rugby in his stride.
HARD FOUGHT WIN FOR 4TH XV
Portadown 4th XV were on the road away to CIYMS and found themselves under their own posts 7 nil down in the first 5 minutes. They were under sever pressure for the first 20 minutes and any possession they did have they squandered, but to their credit they kept the scoreline at only 7 nil.
They found themselves down to 14 players for about 10 minutes following a knee injury to young debutant Sammy Girvan, but despite this they started to string a few phases together. Portadown started playing to their strengths and ran some good lines. Following a set piece, Geoff Caldwell found space in the CI defence with a great run and Darren Thompson was on hand to finish it off, converted by another debutant Ryan Duffy.
The fourths now were getting on top of their hosts dominating all the set pieces, a great break from Ryan McCullough saw him run in from the half way line to score, again converted by young Ryan Duffy, who also took a penalty chance. 17 – 7 at halftime.
The second half started in the same vein as the first, Portadown dominating the set pieces with Chris Dunn at the fore. Though playing into a strong wind at times the defence was stretched, but the defence was much better than in the first period. Phil Caldwell rounded the CI defence with a great try, followed by Sammy Girvan who also scored wide out. CI got a consolation try in between, but the game as a contest was already finished. Some last gasp defence and some handling errors kept the scoreline down for CI.
Final score 30 – 14 to Portadown.
EXCELLENT WIN FOR 3RD’S
09/12/20130 Comments
This was a big match for Portadown after last weeks poor performance against Ards. A great start from the off by the blues, Armagh’s defence was poor at times and it wasnt long for the ports to cross the line with a scrum on the defending teams 5 meter, peter keightley picked from the back of the scrum with a well timed pass to scrum half Jonney Hampton who passed out to R Davis to go in on the corner.
With the blues tails up they had alot of ball but were unable to capitalise due to poor hands. Armagh had very little ball and were struggling to break the blues defence. Once again the Ports were on the Armagh 5 meter, the same move was played and Davis was over for his second of the day. One more try was scored before the break with a great solo effort by Richie May.
15- 0 going into the break.
The second started the same as the first with a strong Portadown pack leading the way, 10 minutes of good play leaded to a line out just outside the Armagh 22, great take by Jonney Mccarthy at 4 started a great driving maul which leads to Stevie Graham who was on the wing go over for his 7th of the season. Armagh got a late try but a all round good effort by the 3rds, Instonians st home this week.
Portadown 20 Armagh 5
