Davy happy to be back in league and winning

Indeed, this was a dress rehearsal as the two teams will face each other again this week in the Junior Cup, and hence Clogher joint coach Davy Black was doubly delighted to get a win under the belt.

“It was definitely good to get the win,” enthused Davy. “With the Conference League it has all been a little stop start. It is always good to get a win over Portadown, they are a good side and it was also important to get back to winning ways in the league and we are right up there with a game in hand.. There are areas we can improve on and we will work on that in training but overall the performance was good and we came through the game injury free.”

Davy is now targeting a run of three big games in the next three weeks as the season gets underway in earnest.

“Yes, we have Portadown in the cup, Cooke away in the league and the All-Ireland then, so we are really getting down to business and we will need all our squad and players fit. There will be plenty of squad rotation and you can see in training the competition for places within the sqaud which is heartening. The boys all want to be in the 1st XV, so that makes training good and hopefully that will be reflected in the performances on the pitch.”

This Friday night fixture was well received with a good turn out of supporters at the Cran to cheer on two of the top sides in Junior rugby.

Clogher coaches Davy Black and Glen Kyle had Andy Breen and Aaron Best back from long term injuries, so the management team had the rare luxury of playing with almost a full deck.

The Tyrone side dominated the opening exchanges, particularly the set pieces, but found it difficult to get the early breakthrough their play deserved.

The rejuvenated Ryan Wilson was in the thick of everything that was positive as Clogher strived to open their account.

A Holme penalty to the corner set up a great opportunity but a resulting knock-on let the visitors of the hook. Several lineout steals by Sharkey kept the pressure on but the Portadown defence was more than up to the Clogher advances. Eventually on the half hour mark the pressure finally was rewarded. Ryan Wilson barged over for the opening try to give the home support something to cheer. It went unconverted but it did give Clogher a slight edge as the interval approached.

The opening exchanges of the second period belonged to the visitors.

The Valley’s only league defeat at the Cran in the previous four seasons was at the hands of Portadown and their early second half onslaught threatened a repeat of that trick.

A long range penalty rebounded of an upright and almost caught Clogher napping but they recovered and defended stoically for a while.

After fifteen minutes Holme broke the siege with a huge clearance kick that effectively ended Portadown’s chances.

Clogher would go on to dominate thereafter with the ‘grunt brigade’ in charge of most aspects of play. Best who had replaced Trotter struck a great box kick that the Portadown defence had to scramble into touch.

Now it was the coaches’ turn to shine. A well-rehearsed catch and drive routine saw the Valley surge forward for Falconer to get the all-important touch down. It went unconverted but Portadown now needed two scores to get back on terms.

Play ebbed and flowed with Clogher in control of the set pieces but playing second fiddle to Portadown at the breakdown areas. The Valley second rowers McKenna and Treanor showed an unquenchable thirst for work and were evident all over the park. Treanor’s ball carrying was a huge positive to his side as the clock ticked towards the eighty.

Another Holme penalty was arrowed into the corner and again the work in the training paddock was rewarded. A Sharkey take followed by a controlled drive resulted in Falconer getting his second touchdown which Holme then goaled to wrap up proceedings.

Any victory over Portadown is hard earned and most welcome.

Now Clogher have to repeat that feat next week when they travel to Chambers Park to meet the same opposition in the Junior Cup.