Valley win well at Portadown
by Bob Beatty
Clogher Valley continued their winning form in 2015 with 20-6 win against Portadown in a Qualifying League One fixture at a chilly Chambers Park.
Valley win well at Portadown
Valley began well and Armstrong brought play up to halfway with a searing break. A scrum produced a penalty to Valley which Holme kicked well into the Portadown half. Poor handling by Valley stopped the attack in its tracks but this was rectified when Portadown were again penalised at the scrum. Holme coverted the penalty to give the Valley a 3-0 lead after 8 minutes.
Portadown responded well and were soon back in the Valley half with forwards and backs putting the ball wide to stretch the visitors’ defence. The attack faltered following knock on, but Valley were penalised subsequently and the Portadown out half, Cousins, goaled the penalty to level the scores at 3-3 on 15 minutes.
Both teams then seemed to struggle for fluency with good breaks by Falconer, Wilson and Sharkey the bright spots as the match entered the second quarter. With inspiration seemingly in short supply a piece of opportunism from Holme was to lead to Valley’s first try. Receiving the ball just inside his own half, he chipped the ball over the onrushing defence into space. A fortuitous bounce was gratefully received by Armstrong, who was up in support, and he brought play into the Portadown 22 before passing to Donaldson who touched down under the posts on 25 minutes. Holme kicked the conversion to put Valley 10-3 in front…………… see more at :- http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/cloghervalleyrfc/s/match-centre-44502/1-1031722/#.VLvRouDqUE4.facebook
