Indisciplined Valley made to pay at death

Editorial Department • Published 18 Feb 2010 10:16 0 Comments

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Action as Clogher Valley threw away a 15-0 lead again Ballymoney on Saturday.

Clogher Valley 1st XV 15; Ballymoney 1st XV 19;

A try four minutes from time robbed Clogher Valley of what would have been a great win against third placed Ballymoney at the Cran on Saturday. They will now have to pick themselves up for a tough away tie in the Towns' Cup to Dromore.

Indeed, the Valley were very much the victims of their own downfall as yellow cards either side of half-time meant the home side had to play a quarter of the game with only 14 men during which time Ballymoney plundered two converted tries which got them back into the game and gave them the momentum to secure a 19-15 win.

Clogher Valley started at a frenetic pace as the visitors were slow to settle. Sharkey stole a Ballymoney lineout and Weir sent up a huge box kick. Sharkey was first to react and plucked the ball out of the air. Weir moved the ball left and Ally Breen joined the line and broke down the left wing. A superbly timed inside pass put Wayne Lyons clear to score an excellent team try. Best's conversion drifted wide but Valley were up and running after only five minutes.

Dunn replaced the injured Fleming as Valley kept up the intensity. Sharkey and Moore combined to bring play into Ballymoney territory and the visitors conceded a penalty for Best to stretch the lead to 8-0.

A sweeping Ballymoney move put the centre clear but he inexplicably lost possession when about to touch down over the line. Richmond then put in a crunching tackle on halfway and Valley were awarded another penalty. Breen found touch and Sharkey claimed the lineout for the Valley pack to drive towards the line. The Ballymoney defence held out several drives before skipper Giles managed to wriggle and squirm his way over for Valley's second try. Best slotted the difficult conversion to give Valley a 15-0 lead after 25 minutes.

Ballymoney openside Taggart, always a thorn in the Valley side, was warned several times for a variety of transgressions at the break down. Then came the first of the yellow cards when Falconer was sent to the line for a similar offence. Ballymoney kicked to the corner, claimed the lineout and Watson finished off a sweeping move to score the visitors first try. Cleland converted to close the gap to 15 - 7.

14 man Valley continued to probe with Sharkey and Richmond to the fore but there was no addition to the score before half time.

On the restart Ballymoney again took advantage of the extra man when Taggart popped up in the centre to score at the posts. Cleland's successful conversion narrowed the gap to just one point at 15 - 14.

Giles was then sent to the bin just as Falconer was about to rejoin the action and the visitors went for the kill.

Credit must go to the Valley defence as repeated raids were repelled time and again. Sharkey made a great covering tackle on the left winger but injured himself in the process.

The Valley crowd were willing the team to hold out as the clock ticked down but with just four minutes left, out-half Irvine breached the gallant Valley line for the decisive score. The conversion was missed and Valley launched a final assault on the Ballymoney line. The visitors knocked on but the referee blew for full time rather than allow Valley the scrum which would have been interesting to say the least.

A losing bonus point is scant reward for the first half effort but Valley will reflect on the indiscipline which cost them the match. It's back to Towns Cup action on Saturday with the difficult quarter-final trip to Dromore. Valley lost twice in the league to Dromore this season and are under no illusions how difficult the tie will be.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 18 Feb 10

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