BALLYMENA (2XV) 20 – 19 PORTADOWN
After the euphoria of last weekends derby win against Armagh, it was always going to be a struggle for Portadown to reach the same intensity against a committed Ballymena 2’s outfit. In the opening twenty minutes however the Ports dominated territory and possession, helped in no small part by Ballymena’s reduction to fourteen men for a period, after a dangerous “spear tackle” on Dermy O’Kane. Frustratingly though the Blues couldn’t convert this domination into scores, the line-out was functioning well and there were a number of driving mauls as a result of clean catches but the Ballymena defence was dogged as both Dermy O’Kane and Gareth Martin found out when their half breaks were cut short. Portadown had a plethora of penalties during this period but opted to kick for touch instead of the posts, believing a try was inevitable if they continued to play the way they were. They didn’t however, and as Ballymena slowly started to claw their way back into the game the visitors error count increased. It was from a turnover ball that Ballymena nearly broke the deadlock, a chip and chase so nearly paying off only for the impressive O’Kane to make a last ditch interception. It was a warning that wasn’t heeded, on twenty minutes a penalty put the home side 3-0 to the good and only five minutes later Ballymena were celebrating a try, the home number ten making an incisive break in midfield before feeding his winger to touch down. 10-0 to the home side at half-time but very much against the run of play.
Ballymena missed two penalties at the beginning of the second period but that charitable spirit didn’t last long, the Ballymena winger again doing the damage – A scrum in midfield the perfect platform to launch an attack and send him over the line. 17-0 to the home side. Portadown could have capitulated at this stage but instead dug in and kept playing to their strengths. They were handed a lifeline by tricky number ten Chris Cousens when he danced his way through the defence from the ten metre line and scored in the corner. A fine individual try that brought the score back to 17-5. The Blues sensed that all was not lost and with the set-piece functioning well finished strong in the last quarter. It was off a lineout that the next score came, quick ball was recycled through several phases before Olly Montels made a play for the line, he would have made it too, were it not for a high tackle, the infringement expertly spotted by the referee and deemed a penalty try. 17-12. Ballymena kept their own scoreboard ticking over with a well taken penalty to push the score to 20-12 before big centre Gareth Martin scored a well worked try for the visitors, leaving the score finely balanced 20-19 at the final whistle and the Ports ruing their failure to put points on the board in those opening exchanges.
PORTADOWN 3XV 13 – 3 LARNE 2
Geoff Caldwell’s thirds secured their first win of the season on Saturday against a determined Larne outfit. The Blues were pinned back in the opening exchanges and but for some robust defending could have found themselves behind early on. Indeed it was from such defending that the Blues try came, a thumping tackle by centre Eddie Ruddell forced his opposite number to spill the ball and grateful winger Nick Durrans was on hand to pick up and sprint home from his own 22. 7-0 at half time. The second half found number ten Alan Robinson in supreme form, showing all his kicking prowess to pin the opposition back and it was two penalties from Robinsons boot that did the damage in the second period to secure the Blues first win of the season. A great team performance that should hopefully breed confidence heading into two tough fixtures against Banbridge and Malone. It is worth noting too that Portadown only conceded four penalties in the entire game. Impressive on the day were Mark Parker at number eight and Mark Beggs at number nine. Man of the match was awarded to Alan Robinson for his all round play.
PORTADOWN 2XV 8 – 18 BALLYMONEY 2XV
It’s becoming a familiar story for the 2XV – Lots of possession, good ball retention. But a lack of incisiveness and a penalty count that ensured the home side would never win this one. Neil Francis asserts that if you can keep the penalty count below ten you are in with a shout, halve that and you should definitely win the game – The Blues would do well to be in with a shout! There were some good phases of play but trying to play too much rugby in the wrong part of the pitch was always going to lead to trouble. Wayne Kelly playing at centre did score and excellent try, and a Chris Goodland penalty did give the Ports eight points, unfortunately the visitors amassed eighteen and the game was lost. Lack of training as a team showed on the pitch and the management are asking all players who want to play 2nd XV rugby to make a concerted effort to attend training. The game saw Dean Hardy play his first game at hooker and he looked a natural which bodes well for the weeks to come. Next up is Instonians away on Friday night and the boys need to step it up a gear.
