Heartbreaking finish ends in defeat for Portora

Editorial Department • Published 11 Feb 2010 09:07 0 Comments

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Portora's Philip Dickie tries to stop Chris Millar of Ballyclare during their Schools Cup clash last Saturday.

Ballyclare 15; Portora 12;

Portora's Schools Cup campaign came to a heartbreaking end when a Ballyclare try deep into added time condemned them to defeat in their last 16 encounter.

Ballyclare had gone into the match as firm favourites. They had home advantage and cup pedigree having made the semi finals in each of the last two seasons, but Portora were confident of upsetting the odds, and were hoping their formidable forward pack could drive them to victory.

From the kick off Portora penned Ballyclare on the edge of their 22, but the pressure on the home side was relieved as Portora's habit of conceding penalties once again came to the fore. Although the team had spent the weeks leading up to the match working on their discipline old habits were beginning to re-emerge, and they were fortunate Ballyclare missed two penalty kicks before the home side did take the lead with an unconverted try by Ballyclare out half Jonny Holmes.

As the half progressed Portora came more into the game and they gained good ground when James Gormley kicked inside Ballyclare's 22. From the lineout Portora's impressive forward play drove the ball forward, with prop Charlie Sargersion touching down to level the scores. Gormley's conversion attempt came back off the post to deny Portora the lead, and they were soon behind once again when Ballyclare converted another penalty.

Portora almost created another great try scoring opportunity when Gormley's kick into the corner hit the corner flag and bounced back into play, allowing the home side to clear their lines. The last chance of the half also fell to Portora, but a long range penalty attempt fell just short of the posts before the half time whistle.

Portora made a few changes at half time, introducing Stephen Patterson for Adam Baxter and shifting Rory Gibson back to his more familiar role as scrum half. Despite the changes Portora spent the early stages of the half on the back foot, but their defence held firm in the face of a Ballyclare onslaught, and they eventually drove into the Ballyclare half. A James Gormley kick earned them possession inside their opponents 22 and paved the way for their second try of the match. From the line out Portora progressed to the try line, and although their initial efforts were ruled to be held up, from the resulting scrum Matthew Tanswell touched down and Gormley converted.

With only minutes remaining Portora invited pressure on themselves by fumbling Ballyclare's restart kick, but with the match well into injury time they looked to have relieved the pressure with a quick break into their opponents half, only for the referee to pull play back harshly for a forward pass.

From the resultant scrum Ballyclare moved the ball wide and won another penalty on the Portora line. With no time for the line out they picked and drove, and despite valiant defending by the Portora Pack the line was eventually breached with the long arm of the Ballyclare number 8 David Clarke, grounding the ball on the line to leave the score 15 -12 with a successful conversion.

The Ravenhill dream is not over however, with the shield competition now in Portora's sights. Their first clash is away to Limavady on Saturday 20th February.

S Sargaison, J Foster, M Trimble, J Brady capt R Blair, P Dickie R Ogle, M Tanswell, S Burrell J Ferguson, J Houston, R Gibson, J Gormley, J McKenzie. Subs N Allen, G Rutherford, S McIlveen, A Farrell, A Stephens, J Magwood A Stephens replaced P Dickie.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 11 Feb 10

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