Clogher Valley kept their league aspirations alive with a 27-8 win over Bangor at The Cran on Tuesday night to record a bonus point victory.

On Saturday Valley defeated Cooke but failed to gain a bonus point. However, they were quick out of the blocks on Tuesday night and had the bonus point in the bag early on as they look to keep pressure on league leaders Instonians.

“We got out of the traps really quickly and it was a really pleasing performance. I could sense in the changing room before the game that the boys were really up for it after missing out on the bonus point on Saturday and they had the bonus point secured early in the game. We need Instonians to drop at least a point somewhere before we play them in the final game but all we can do is concentrate on own game against Ballyclare on Saturday and hope that somebody does us a favour,” said joint coach Davy Black.

Valley have suffered a number of injuries in recent weeks but Black feels that the young players who have come in have done a great job.

“We developed a lot of players this year and it is a very young squad. On Tuesday night we had 12 under 25s playing and that can only stand to us in the future,” he added.

Valley were again forced to reorganise with Sharkey and Primrose not available. However Best and Orr returned. Within 12 minutes Valley had essentially won the game with a superb four try bonus point.

Playing up the slope and in a downpour Valley attacked from the first scrum, awarded when the Bangor kick off went straight to touch.

Valley drove Bangor back with little difficulty, a feature of the game throughout. Though Bangor cleared the ball the continued pressure from the Valley defence eventually forced a five metre scrum. Valley again drove Bangor over their own goal line and Treiner touched down for a 5-0 lead after three minutes.

From the restart Valley drove forward and a resultant penalty was kicked to touch. A good catch and drive saw prop Moore dive over untouched and a 10-0 lead for Valley after five minutes.

Valley returned the restart with a ranging kick from man of the match outhalf Armstrong. Bangor made a hash of the line out and second row Treanor was on hand to pick up the loose ball and score another Valley try and a 15-0 lead after seven minutes.

Bangor were in turmoil and struggling to get any possession. From their first ruck won they moved the ball wide to their dangerous winger Widdowson.

However their passing was laboured and Valley winger Donaldson intercepted and ran 70 metres for Valleys fourth and bonus point try after 12 minutes. Armstrong converted and Valley led 22-0.

Valley started to relax a little and Bangor started to play better but Valley defence was unforgiving. Eventually Bangor kicked a penalty for a 22-3 score after 17 minutes.

The rest of the first half consisted of Bangor attacking but making little progress. In one incident Valley full back Stott took a high ball under his own posts and then set off on a run evading several Bangor tackles for a 40 metre gain. Valley should have scored again just before half time when encamped on the Bangor line but a penalty brought play to an end.

The second half continued as the first with Valley dominating scrums and lineouts and pressurising Bangor into mistake every time they had the ball.

From one of these on 52 minutes Valley turned over the Bangor ball deep in their own half. Scrum half Best went blind and released the supporting Armstrong who scythed though the poor Bangor defence on a 40 metre run.

Though stopped he was able to release Best for another Valley try and a 27-3 lead.

Valley then relieved the pressure on Bangor by giving away a series of sloppy penalties. From one of these Bangor kicked to touch and then scored with their own catch and drive for a consolation score after 63 minutes.

Another dash by Stott again had the large crowd cheering but Valley were playing now with little control or momentum.

They continued to give away penalties and eventually the referee yellow carded a player with eight minutes left and the game then petered out tamely.

This was an excellent result for Valley which maintains the pressure on league leaders Instonians. On Saturday they make the journey to Ballyclare for another must win fixture and their fifth game in 14 days. The injury list continues to lengthen. However it seems that whatever changes Valley are forced to make in personnel or positional the players adapt, fit in immediately and the Valley systems, and results, are the same.