Away Win with a Bonus Point
By Stephen Hetherington
Clogher Valley registered their third Qualifying One win of the season with a bonus point 27-25 victory over Ballyclare in a pulsating match at the Cl
Clogher Valley moved to second in the Qualifying One table with a bonus point 27-25 victory over Ballyclare in a pulsating match at the Cloughan.
Any fears that Valley would be undercooked after a month away from league action, were soon dispelled in the opening minutes. A good receipt of the ball from the kick off saw Valley establish good field position. Valley were awarded a penalty which Holme kicked into the Ballyclare 22. The resulting lineout saw Ryan Wilson go over after 3 minutes for Valley’s first try. The difficult conversion was missed to leave Valley leading 5-0.
A good spell of play from the Valley was undone when the lively Ballyclare backline returned the ball with interest and several missed tackles saw the home team’s winger go over for a try on 17 mins. The conversion was missed.
Good work from Treanor and a telling break from Falconer then put pressure on the Ballyclare defence. The referee yellow carded the Ballyclare flanker on 27 minutes but Holme missed a kickable penalty.
The reprieve for Ballyclare was temporary however. Another penalty to Valley on 30 minutes saw Holme prod the ball into the corner. The Valley pack secured lineout possession and Sharkey, who was to be a real talisman for his team throughout the match, barged over for the visitors’ second try. Holme kicked the conversion and Valley were leading 12-5
As the first half drew to a close Ballyclare narrowed the gap with a well struck 35 metre penalty from their full back. At half-time the score was 12-8 to the Valley.
Valley started the second half with real purpose. A good receipt of the kick off from McKenna saw Ryan Wilson – whose contribution was immense throughout – make a 40 metre break.
With the home side on the defensive a scrum deep inside their own 22 saw the Valley pack steal the ball and shunt the home team backwards. Cobane pounced on the ball to score Valley’s third try. The conversion was missed to leave Valley leading 17-8 after 50 minutes.
This was to be the beginning of a rollercoaster period of play up to full time. First, the Ballyclare backline contrived to split the Valley defence out wide and score their second try on 55 minutes. The conversion was missed to leave the home side trailing 13-17. Three minutes later Ballyclare were to take the lead for the first time in the match after a fluffed Valley pass in midfield was eagerly seized on by the home side and the result was a third try. The conversion was missed to leave it at 18-17 to Ballyclare.
The last quarter saw three more tries. On 61 minutes a penalty to Valley was kicked into the Ballyclare 22. The resulting lineout saw Valley maul the home team’s pack back nearly 20 metres, with Falconer lending his assistance to go over for the visitors’ fourth try. The conversion was missed but Valley were now leading 22-18.
Again Ballyclare came back. A great break from the Ballyclare out half saw play brought to half way. Good continuity from the home side saw the Valley defence stretched out wide and their full back sprinted through to score under the posts. The conversion was added to see Ballyclare leading 25-22 on 66 minutes. Worse was to follow for Valley with Holme having to depart injured.
Valley were not done however. In a tremendous statement of resolve they forced play back up into the Ballyclare 22. When a scrum was awarded inside the Ballyclare 22 the Valley pack put on a dominant shove and Ryan Wilson picked up to score the visitors’ fifth try on 75 minutes. The conversion was missed and it remained 27-25 when the referee blew the final whistle shortly thereafter.
In a great advert for Qualifying league rugby it was the Valley determination and experience that told in the end. This will stand them in good stead as they play away to Larne in the second round of the Junior cup next week and then face the Connemara All Blacks in the All Ireland Junior Cup at the Cran on the 24th October.
