PORTADOWN 2XV 37-18 COOKE 2XV
Portadown seconds have been steadily improving in recent weeks and a win against Cooke seconds keeps momentum with the side. Whilst the result was all-important it was the manner of the win which was most pleasing. The Blues were rampant at Chambers Park to run out convincing 37-18 winners. Posession was key from the start with the players working hard, indeed the work rate throughout the team was particularly pleasing. Portadown were playing running rugby, working through the phases and constantly probing the Cooke defence for gaps. This was high intensity rugby with good offloading in the tackle with support always on hand. There were tries for Wayne Kelly, Pete Liggett (2), John Purdy (2), and Johnny Stewart, whilst Chris Goodland kicked two penalties and a conversion. This was a great performance from the boys and they need to carry this through for the match with table topping Clougher Valley next week. Lee Ruddock playing his first game for the club on the wing put in a very good performance.
PORTADOWN 3XV 20 – 28 BALLYMENA 3XV
Portadown threes continued their stuttering campaign with a defeat at home in a fog shrouded encounter at Chambers Park on Wednesday night. The home side played well in the first half, matching their opponents physicality scoring two tries from Johnny Hampton and Colin Lawson but trailing their opponents by the minimum at half time 13-12. Ballymena enforced their superiority in the second as the Blues fought hard to stay in touch. A try by captain Geoff Caldwell after a good drive by the forward unit highlighted the home sides good play but they couldn’t reign Ballymena in as they won the game 28-20. Best players on the day were Colin Lawson and Brian Tedford. Next up is a tough fixture against Lisburn 2’s.
PORTADOWN 4XV 10 – 40 BANBRIDGE 4XV
Portadown’s Friday night fixture didn’t start well, taking the field with only fourteen men and it was to be an omen of things to come as they slumped to a heavy defeat. The Blues played in fits and starts but their Banbridge opponents were much more cohesive and effective. You can never expect to win a match if you can’t first secure your own set piece ball, and Portadown’s failure to do this meant they were always on the backfoot. The miserable night was compounded by an injury to prop Ryan Hazley which is sure to see him miss the next few months of rugby. A game to forget for 4ths captain Andrew Gilpin, who knows his team can only get better over the next few weeks.
