Clogher Valley consolidated their position in second place in the Qualifying One table and maintained their chase of Instonians with a hard fought 20-6 win away to Portadown on Saturday for their third win of 2015.

The win was also good preparations for an injury hit Valley as they commence their defence of the Powerade Towns’ Cup on Saturday with a home tie against Coleraine.

Joint coach Davy Black was delighted with the win.

“Any time you go away to Portadown and come back with a 20-6 win, you have to be delighted. They are an experienced team with plenty of old heads playing, so it was a great performance from the boys,” explained Davy.

He added: “We have had injuries but the boys that have come in have certainly rose to the challenge and are cementing their places in there. They showed a lot of promise on Saturday and we were all very happy with the display and the win. It keeps the pressure on Instonians and they know any slip up and we will be there. Our form has been good in 2015.” Valley begin their defence of the Towns’ Cup on Saturday and Davy is expecting another tough tie.

“It would be great to retain the Towns’ Cup in our 25th year but we know there is a lot of work to be done in between now and any chance of that happening. We have a home draw which is all you want in a cup tie and we know Coleraine are dogged opposition and it will be far from easy. But we are happy with the way the boys are working in training and what they are producing on the pitch, so it is a tie we are really looking forward to.” Saturday’s match-up against Portadown was a predictably tight encounter throughout and Valley led 10-3 at the break before a further 10 points in the second period secured the win with Portadown’s only response another penalty.

Valley began well and Armstrong brought play up to halfway with a searing break. A scrum produced a penalty to Valley which Holme kicked well into the Portadown half. Poor handling by Valley stopped the attack in its tracks but this was rectified when Portadown were again penalised at the scrum. Holme converted the penalty to give the Valley a 3-0 lead after eight minutes.

Portadown responded well and were soon back in the Valley half with forwards and backs putting the ball wide to stretch the visitors’ defence. The attack faltered following a knock on but Valley were penalised subsequently and the Portadown out-half, Cousins, kicked the penalty to level the scores at 3-3 on 15 minutes.

Both teams then seemed to struggle for fluency with good breaks by Falconer, Wilson and Sharkey the bright spots as the match entered the second quarter.

With inspiration seemingly in short supply a piece of opportunism from Holme was to lead to Valley’s first try. Receiving the ball just inside his own half, he chipped the ball over the onrushing defence into space. A fortuitous bounce was gratefully received by Armstrong, who was up in support, and he brought play into the Portadown 22 before passing to Donaldson who touched down under the posts on 25 minutes. Holme kicked the conversion to put Valley 10-3 in front.

The remainder of the half saw Portadown on the offensive.

Good tackles by Stott and Wilson snuffled out try scoring opportunities by the home team. A fine break up the centre by the Portadown hooker, Lamb, in the shadow of half time provoked consternation among the watching Valley fans, before the move broke down and the danger was averted.

Much of the play in the first period of the second half was disjointed with both sides trying to establish some fluency.

There was bad news for Valley on 54 minutes when Robinson departed, which required some re-organisation in the pack. Falconer lightened the gloom with a trademark barnstorming run up the middle a few minutes later. An indiscretion at a ruck by a Valley player on 58 minutes, however, led to a penalty between the Valley 10 metre line and the 22. Cousins kicked the penalty to reduced the deficit to 10-6.

This seemed to galvanise Valley who proceeded to produce their best spell of the match. While the Valley lineout was sporadically productive throughout the match, their powerful scrum was the launch pad for a series of attacks, with man of the match Wilson making tremendous yardage and providing a target for the on-rushing support.

A rampaging run by Wilson on 61 minutes was a catalyst for a move which brought play from just outside the Valley 22 to well into the Portadown half - with great support by Primrose and Falconer. A scrum ensued with the referee again penalising the home front row and Holme added the points to extend the Valley lead to 13-6.

With the momentum now with Valley an outstanding tackle by Bennett forced the home team into coughing up the ball, just inside the Valley half. A sweeping move ensued with Valley backs and forwards combining and Trenier was on the end to touch down for Valley’s second try on 70 minutes. Holme landed the conversion to leave Valley leading 20-6.

Portadown seemed to be on the verge of responding when they pressed into the Valley 22, with the final whistle in sight. There was, however, to be no further score and the Valley recorded their third win from three outings in 2015.