Clogher Valley sailed into the last eight of the Powerade Towns’ Cup with a comprehensive 50-0 win away to Armagh 2nd XV on Saturday.
Valley dominated proceedings from the off as they raced into a 33-0 lead by half time and they continued to add scores in the second half, running in eight tries in all, to set up a home tie against Portadown in the quarter-finals.
“It was probably more comfortable than we thought it would be,” said Clogher joint coach Davy Black. 
“The conditions were not good for open rugby but we got a few scores through the pack at the start and we began to throw it about the backs after that. 
"Overall it was a pleasing result from a team point of view and it was good to see scores from the forwards and the backs.”
Black though anticipates a much tougher test against Portadown in the quarters.
“We have beat Portadown twice in the league but we have had to play really well to get those results and they are going well in the league so it is going to be a difficult game. 
"The important thing though in a cup game is to get home advantage and thankfully we got that,” added Black.
The Valley team, with Falconer making his first appearance since November due to injury, started well. 
A dangerous kick through into the Armagh 22 saw Speer on hand to claim the ball and Valley’s first try. Trotter narrowly missed the conversion but Valley were leading 5-0 after three minutes.
The dye was cast with Valley dominating territory and the set piece. 
A series of Valley attacks and scrums eventually saw Ryan Wilson barge over with Trotter adding the extras to see Valley leading 12-0 after 12 minutes.
Although Armagh momentarily looked as though they would respond, good defence, with Falconer a reassuring presence at inside centre, and a fine tackle from Agnew averted the danger.
Valley continued to show the kind of hunger and momentum that had been missing from recent matches and, after Armagh fumbled the ball between their 10 metre line and their 22, it was Ryan Wilson who reacted first. 
He snaffled the loose ball and made good ground before offloading to the supporting Primrose who did well to stretch our for Valley’s third try. 
Trotter added the conversion to see Valley leading 19-0 after 21 minutes.
A great steal by Trenier, playing in the back row, in midfield then saw Donaldson kick the ball and just lose out in the chase for what would have been Valley’s fourth try. 
The respite was temporary for Armagh as, a few minutes later, a dominant Valley scrum forced the Armagh pack backwards with Ryan Wilson dotting down close to the Armagh posts. Trotter added the extras to see Valley leading 26-0 after 35 minutes.
With half-time in sight a good receipt of the restart from McKenna and a Trenier charge again brought play deep into the Armagh half. A series of mauls and scrums, with the Armagh pack visibly wilting, saw Ryan Wilson power over to score his third and Valley’s fifth try. Trotter added the conversion to leave it 33-0 to Valley which is how it finished at half-time.
Any sense that Valley would take the foot off the gas in the second half was soon dispelled. 
A series of attacks gave Valley the go forward momentum and Breen powered onto a pass well inside the Armagh half and scored Valley’s sixth try on 44 minutes. 
The conversion was missed but Valley’s lead had increased to 38-0.
With confidence among the Valley backs, in particular, high a fine break by Donaldson was the catalyst for a further try as he brought play back into the Armagh 22 a few minutes later.
 With the home defence stretched, Best whipped the ball wide to Speer whose telling pass under pressure released Trenier to score a good try on the left. 
The try was unconverted and Valley were leading 43-0 around the 50 minutes mark.
The Valley domination continued and a further breakout from their ten metre line saw Speer and Trenier exchange passes on the right touchline for Speer to sprint over for Valley’s eighth try. 
Trotter landed the converted to leave it 50-0 to Valley and the referee blew up for full time around 15 minutes early.
All told, a great return to form for Valley which will give them confidence as they have two critical home games coming up over the next couple of weekends.
This Saturday there is a home league game against Ballyclare as Clogher look maintain pressure on the leaders. 
And then it is the Towns' Cup Quarter Final, also at the Cran, against Portadown on February 13.
On this week’s league clash, Black commented: 
“Ballyclare are coming off a good result against Omagh at the weekend and they have a lot of good players so we’re under no illusions that this is going to be a big step up from last week.”