Report: Portadown & Omagh Rugby
Snippet : The Omagh team started the game in a positive mood and dominated both territory and possession scored for long periods of the first half. They had built up a 12-8 by the break but their great challenge finished with almost the last play of the game when Portadown converted a penalty opportunity to win the game by 21-20….. see the full story below
Nutty Krust Tournament Portadown U18’s v Omagh U18’s Monday 7th March 2022
The third of this season’s Nutty Krust group stage games got underway in the Nutty Krust U18Tournament under the floodlights at a cold but dry Chambers Park when the Portadown U18 team played the Omagh U18 team on Monday evening. The Portadown team, having recorded a well contested 29-19 bonus point victory in their first group stage game, were hoping to secure a spot as group stage winners in the Nutty Krust final. A sizeable crowd had gathered to watch an entertaining game which featured quite a few talented players on both teams.
The Omagh team started the game in a positive mood and dominated both territory and possession scored for long periods of the first half. They had built up a 12-8 by the break but their great challenge finished with almost the last play of the game when Portadown converted a penalty opportunity to win the game by 21-20.
Omagh scored two first half tries, through the impressive Sean Kerr and Joe McMullan, one of which was converted by Joshua Kyle, to take a 12-0 lead early in the game. The Portadown team responded with an unconverted try from Ciaran Peterson, and a penalty from Toby Gribben, to reduce the deficit to 12-8. Players such as Harry White, Paul Antu and Jake Taylor were to the fore in the build up to these scores.
The third quarter of the game was played, in the main, at a great pace with both teams running the ball from deep at every opportunity. On one such occasion Sean Kerr finished a flowing Omagh attack with an unconverted try in the corner to extend the Omagh lead to 17-8.
Portadown responded with great go forward ball involving good interactive plays from both their forwards and backs. Jamie Marshall crossed the whitewash to touch down for a try, which Toby Gribben converted, to reduce the arrears to 17-15. Further Portadown pressure then forced the Omagh defence into conceding a penalty. Toby Gribben converted the kick to see the Portadown team into an 18-17 lead going into the final few minutes of the game.
Back came Omagh and, this time, it was the Portadown defence that coughed up the penalty. Joshua Kyle was deadly accurate with his kick to see the Omagh team regain the lead at 20-18 with little time remaining.
From the restart one final Portadown attack saw an Omagh player stray into an off-side position. Up stepped Toby Gribben to slot the resultant kick which secured the 21-20 victory for the Portadown team at the no-side whistle.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Jim Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Flat Dogs Gourmet Food” Restaurant, and organised by Ryan, the Flat Dogs proprietor. Ryan was assisted by Johnny Wickham in serving the food. All the players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Ian Wray, former Portadown RFC and Ulster U23 player, and current Chairman of Portadown Rugby Club, presented the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post match ceremony. The Man of the Match Award went to Sean Kerr, the Omagh RFC U18 team inside centre.
The fourth of this season’s Nutty Krust group stage games will be played on Wednesday 9th March when the City of Armagh RFC U18 team will play the Rainey Old Boys’ RFC U18 team at 7-45pm. All visitors and supporters to the game will be made to feel very welcome and are invited to use the Portadown RFC facilities before and after the game.
