Portadown 11

Clogher Valley 32

Clogher Valley set up a mouth-watering Junior Cup semi-final clash with Qualifying League One leaders Bangor at The Cran with a comprehensive 32-11 victory over Portadown at Chambers Park on Saturday.

Clogher were outstanding from the start and went in leading 17-3 at half time before pushing on in the second half to record a comfortable win.

Joint Coach Davy Black felt that Valley's performance on Saturday was as good as it has been for some time.

"It was a very good win and I thought that the boys applied themselves really well," he said. "We were slightly disappointed with our performance on the Friday night the week before against Portadown but the boys came out on Saturday and produced a real good team performance. I thought it was the best we have played in a while and the boys seem to be gelling well. There is also good competition for places at the minute which is helped by us being injury free."

On the draw for the semi-final, he added: "Bangor have been going well and are top of Qualifying One but all we wanted was a home draw which we got and we are hard to beat at home."

On Saturday, a bright start by the home side was brought to a shuddering halt when Moore effected a turnover at the breakdown for the Valley. Valley established good field position in the Portadown 22 and after a series of rumbles it was Ryan Wilson who finally touched down for the try on 12 minutes. Holme added the extras to give Valley a 7-0 lead.

Good continuity by the Valley was to place more pressure on Portadown which led to a penalty in favour of the visitors. Holme kicked a good penalty to leave it 10-0 after 14 minutes.

Portadown continued to try and put some width on the game and this, at times, asked questions of the Valley defence who were, nevertheless, more than up to the task. Donaldson was called upon to foil a Portadown attack out wide and a crucial intervention at the breakdown by BJ Wilson produced a penalty for the Valley.

The Valley scrum started to make its presence felt and this became a real focus for Valley attacks. A strong shove on halfway saw Best – who along with his half back partner, Holme, had an influential game – make a mazy run to bring play well into the Portadown half. Eventually, following a five metre scrum, the Valley pack rocked the home eight back and Ryan Wilson claimed his second try. Holme added the extras to leave Valley 17-0 in front after 37 minutes.

With half time in sight, Portadown reduced the deficit after Cousens goaled a tricky penalty. The referee blew for half time shortly after to leave Valley leading 17-3.

The second half started with Valley on the attack and good breaks by Treanor and Sharkey stretching the home defence. A penalty to Valley just outside the Portadown 22 saw Best take a quick tap and the ball was spread wide with Donaldson on the receiving end of the final pass to score. The conversion was missed but Valley were now leading 22-3 after 49 minutes.

Portadown reduced the deficit somewhat three minutes later when Cousens goaled a good penalty to make it 22-6 to the visitors.

The respite for the home side was temporary. First, Holme drilled a punishing line kick to within 15 metres of the Portadown try line. Then a series of Valley scrums inched the visitors closer to the try line. When Ryan Wilson eventually picked up, he pirouetted out of a series of attempted tackles by Portadown, to score his third try on 59 minutes. Holme added the extras to leave Valley leading 29-6.

Portadown then threw caution to the wind and, following good interplay between backs and forwards, stretched the Valley defence sufficiently to provide the space for full back Purvis to score in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed to leave it 29-11 to the Valley after 65 minutes.

Any sense that Portadown could stage a revival was snuffed out immediately. As Valley inched beyond the Portadown 40 metre line, the ball was passed to Holme who dropped a goal to stretch the Valley lead to 32-11. Resolute defence by the Valley, with some good tackles by Speer and Falconer in the centre were to prevent any further Portadown scored as the clock ran down to full time and Valley registering an impressive 32-11 win.

A very encouraging all round Valley performance, with good defence, a simple but effective game plan and great commitment from 1 -17.

It is back to league action for Clogher this week with an away game against Cooke.