Grosvenor RFC 10 Clogher Valley 10

AS FAR back as January 25, when Clogher travelled to Portadown, little did they realise that it would be eight months before they would play another competitive league fixture.

Travelling up the M1 on Saturday morning, little did they realise how competitive that fixture would be.

Two late changes saw Flynn in to partner Mills in the centre and, after a year down under, Trotter was back in the scrum half spot.

Grosvenor started at a brisk pace, with their big hard running backline causing early problems.

Indeed, they thought they had an early try, but one of their players had stepped into touch – to the relief of the Valley contingent.

Gradually the visitors weathered the initial onslaught and started to put some phases together. A good ball in behind by Armstrong set up a promising field position.

Wilson was inches from a score and, minutes later, as Grosvenor tried to break out, the effervescent Dunwoody downed a ball carrier, who then conceded a penalty.

Armstrong obliged and the visitors were 3 points up.

The remainder of the half was frenetic. It was punch and counter punch. The Valley had an edge in the set pieces but the Grosvenor backline were hard to contain.

Flynn, Mills and Maxwell made important tackles and Dunwoody was never far from the action.

Alas, on the 40-minute mark, Grosvenor did strike with a converted try to leave the half-time score, 7-3.

The Valley opened the second period on the front foot. Grosvenor were pinned back in their own 22’ metre area.

Penalty

Five-metre scrum, penalty to the visitors, another five-metre scrum, and penalty again as Grosvenor struggled to contain the visiting eight.

A further scrum and on the third offence the official went under the posts to award a penalty try.

At 7-10, the travelling support thought their side would push on from here, but that was not to be.

Grosvenor would hold most of the aces as the game progressed. The Valley defence was magnificent.

No 8, Wilson, was outstanding in defence, as were his back row colleagues, Fegan and Dunwoody.

As the pressure built the penalties count would rise, and 15 minutes in, Grosvenor levelled the score with a difficult penalty attempt.

Some good tactical kicking and positive chases saw play to and fro in the third quarter. Grosvenor had a further penalty sail wide, but soon were to get another chance.

Flynn made a superb tackle but was trapped under a mesh of bodies, and was rather harshly yellow-carded for not rolling away. Penalty in front of posts. Incredibly, it sailed wide.

Minutes later, and another yellow card - this time, it was Liggett who was off.

Down to 13 men, the floodgates could have opened, but try as they may Grosvenor could not get the breakthrough.

The Valley showed great character and resilience in defence, no more so than winger, Boles, who made two incredible try-saving tackles as the visitors held the line.

Grosvenor had one last chance - another penalty on the stroke of full-time. Their kicker’s confidence had been shot, and it too sailed wide, to the relief of the Tyrone outfit.

This was a hard-earned two points, but deserved.

Next Saturday, it’s away to Enniskillen for the normal 2.30 kick-off.