Clogher Valley’s brave bid to haul back runaway leaders Instonians pretty much ended on Saturday as a last minute Ballyclare penalty robbed them of a much needed victory which now leaves them trailing Instonians by four points.

Clogher have one game left against Instonians who have two games left and only need a draw or better in their other game (away to Dromore last night Wednesday) to secure the Qualifying One league title.

It has been a tough run-in for the Valley and a mounting injury list has taken its toll. However, Saturday will offer the perfect way to bounce back when the Cran based side and reigning cup holders look to make it back into the Towns’ Cup final when they travel to take on Ballymena 2nd XV.

Joint coach Davy Black admits injuries are starting to take their toll.

“The five games in two weeks was always going to be a big ask and you could see the legs going in the second half. It definitely took its toll but that is rugby and the business end of the season you have to be ready but the injuries did play a part,” said Davy who can’t fault the commitment of his players.

“On Saturday the boys put in a tremendous shift but maybe decision making let us down at key times and you get that from time to time. Fingers crossed, Thursday night will let us know what we have and what we don’t for the cup semi-final. We have six or seven injured and if we can get three or four back then I will be happy. Hopefully, we can get a team out to do a job up there. You just don’t know what team they will have given they are a senior league club. We will give it a good try. I know the boys will give 100 per cent as they have in the last five games and they will do the same on Saturday. I can’t ask for any more as a coach. The desire is definitely there and hopefully that will take us to another final,” concluded Black.

On Saturday last, a much changed Valley side (owing largely to injury) - and containing only nine of the squad that played in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season - sought to impose the game on Ballyclare from the start. In the first quarter, Valley regularly established good position until a lack of accuracy gave the ball back to Ballyclare. With a strong wind favouring Ballyclare in the first half, the home side’s impressive out half, Smith, was content to return the ball downfield with interest. On several occasions only committed tackling by Trenier, Agnew and Ellis averted the danger.

A break out of the Valley 22 by Breen on 23 minutes brought play right into the Ballyclare half. With the home defence stretched it seemed that a score was likely but a loose pass was hacked on by the home side’s winger who proceeded to follow up and score under the Valley posts. Smith added the conversion to make it 7-0 to Ballyclare.

If Valley were to feel unlucky to be behind after being the dominant team in the first quarter, things were to get worse within minutes. First an indiscretion in the loose led to a penalty to Ballyclare just outside to the Valley 22. The kick was missed but the fielding of this led to a penalty awarded to Ballyclare under the Valley posts. Smith goaled the kick to give Ballyclare a 10-0 lead.

Captain Best sought to bring Valley back into the game with a telling break from the restart with Armstrong supporting to bring play well into the Ballyclare half. The ball was turned over at ruck time and the resulting Ballyclare attack producing a penalty in their favour between halfway and the Valley ten metre line. Smith landed an excellent kick to give Ballyclare a 13-0 lead with 34 minutes gone.

As half time approached Valley were to finally get a score on the board when, following a lineout just inside the Ballyclare 22, the visitors rumbled over with Falconer claiming the touchdown. The difficult conversion was missed and the score was 13-5 to Ballyclare at half time.

The second half saw Valley starting with menace with the wind and the slope in their favour. First a good kick from the back of a scrum by Best saw Trenieor, who was following up, force a five yard scrum to Valley. A dominant scrum saw Valley steam roll the home team over their own line with Falconer adding his considerable support to score his second try. Armstrong kicked the conversion to leave Valley just trailing by one point, 13-12.

Valley continued to exert pressure during this period with Bennett, Treanor and Eugene McKenna making telling contributions in the loose. This was to produce further dividends when yet more go-forward ball from the set-piece saw Valley storm over the Ballyclare line with Falconer claiming his third try. Armstrong kicked the difficult conversion to see Valley leading 19-13 on 55 minutes.

Then came the frantic final quarter.

Ballyclare arrested the slide on the scoreboard when Smith kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to 19-16 to Valley on 64 minutes. With Ballyclare playing into a strong wind they were more likely to put the ball through the hands. This led to a try to Ballyclare on 68 minutes when Smith out-foxed the Valley defence to go over. He also added the conversion to put Ballyclare 23-19 in front.

With full time in sight Valley again put the home defence under the cosh when, after series of rucks and mauls, the visitors’ players piled in to force the fourth try (with some dipute over who acutally scored!!). Armstrong kicked an excellent conversion to give Valley a 26-23 lead.

But Ballyclare were not finished and with confusion over the score, the referee confirmed that a Ballyclare penalty was to be the final play. Smith lined up the ball close to the Valley touchline inside the 22 with a cross wind to contend with. To the celebration from the home support, he landed the kick and the match ended 26-26.

Clogher Valley’s brave bid to haul back runaway leaders Instonians pretty much ended on Saturday as a last minute Ballyclare penalty robbed them of a much needed victory which now leaves them trailing Instonians by four points.

Clogher have one game left against Instonians who have two games left and only need a draw or better in their other game (away to Dromore last night Wednesday) to secure the Qualifying One league title.

It has been a tough run-in for the Valley and a mounting injury list has taken its toll. However, Saturday will offer the perfect way to bounce back when the Cran based side and reigning cup holders look to make it back into the Towns’ Cup final when they travel to take on Ballymena 2nd XV.

Joint coach Davy Black admits injuries are starting to take their toll.

“The five games in two weeks was always going to be a big ask and you could see the legs going in the second half. It definitely took its toll but that is rugby and the business end of the season you have to be ready but the injuries did play a part,” said Davy who can’t fault the commitment of his players.

“On Saturday the boys put in a tremendous shift but maybe decision making let us down at key times and you get that from time to time. Fingers crossed, Thursday night will let us know what we have and what we don’t for the cup semi-final. We have six or seven injured and if we can get three or four back then I will be happy. Hopefully, we can get a team out to do a job up there. You just don’t know what team they will have given they are a senior league club. We will give it a good try. I know the boys will give 100 per cent as they have in the last five games and they will do the same on Saturday. I can’t ask for any more as a coach. The desire is definitely there and hopefully that will take us to another final,” concluded Black.

On Saturday last, a much changed Valley side (owing largely to injury) - and containing only nine of the squad that played in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season - sought to impose the game on Ballyclare from the start. In the first quarter, Valley regularly established good position until a lack of accuracy gave the ball back to Ballyclare. With a strong wind favouring Ballyclare in the first half, the home side’s impressive out half, Smith, was content to return the ball downfield with interest. On several occasions only committed tackling by Trenier, Agnew and Ellis averted the danger.

A break out of the Valley 22 by Breen on 23 minutes brought play right into the Ballyclare half. With the home defence stretched it seemed that a score was likely but a loose pass was hacked on by the home side’s winger who proceeded to follow up and score under the Valley posts. Smith added the conversion to make it 7-0 to Ballyclare.

If Valley were to feel unlucky to be behind after being the dominant team in the first quarter, things were to get worse within minutes. First an indiscretion in the loose led to a penalty to Ballyclare just outside to the Valley 22. The kick was missed but the fielding of this led to a penalty awarded to Ballyclare under the Valley posts. Smith goaled the kick to give Ballyclare a 10-0 lead.

Captain Best sought to bring Valley back into the game with a telling break from the restart with Armstrong supporting to bring play well into the Ballyclare half. The ball was turned over at ruck time and the resulting Ballyclare attack producing a penalty in their favour between halfway and the Valley ten metre line. Smith landed an excellent kick to give Ballyclare a 13-0 lead with 34 minutes gone.

As half time approached Valley were to finally get a score on the board when, following a lineout just inside the Ballyclare 22, the visitors rumbled over with Falconer claiming the touchdown. The difficult conversion was missed and the score was 13-5 to Ballyclare at half time.

The second half saw Valley starting with menace with the wind and the slope in their favour. First a good kick from the back of a scrum by Best saw Trenieor, who was following up, force a five yard scrum to Valley. A dominant scrum saw Valley steam roll the home team over their own line with Falconer adding his considerable support to score his second try. Armstrong kicked the conversion to leave Valley just trailing by one point, 13-12.

Valley continued to exert pressure during this period with Bennett, Treanor and Eugene McKenna making telling contributions in the loose. This was to produce further dividends when yet more go-forward ball from the set-piece saw Valley storm over the Ballyclare line with Falconer claiming his third try. Armstrong kicked the difficult conversion to see Valley leading 19-13 on 55 minutes.

Then came the frantic final quarter.

Ballyclare arrested the slide on the scoreboard when Smith kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to 19-16 to Valley on 64 minutes. With Ballyclare playing into a strong wind they were more likely to put the ball through the hands. This led to a try to Ballyclare on 68 minutes when Smith out-foxed the Valley defence to go over. He also added the conversion to put Ballyclare 23-19 in front.

With full time in sight Valley again put the home defence under the cosh when, after series of rucks and mauls, the visitors’ players piled in to force the fourth try (with some dipute over who acutally scored!!). Armstrong kicked an excellent conversion to give Valley a 26-23 lead.

But Ballyclare were not finished and with confusion over the score, the referee confirmed that a Ballyclare penalty was to be the final play. Smith lined up the ball close to the Valley touchline inside the 22 with a cross wind to contend with. To the celebration from the home support, he landed the kick and the match ended 26-26.