Clogher Valley 1st XV 20 Ballynahinch 2nd XV 17

Clogher Valley had to dig deep before eventually booking their place in the semi final of the Junior Cup with a 20-17 win over Ballynahinch at the Cran on Saturday.

In the sides’ previous meeting this season, Clogher had cruised to a 64-0 victory, but this was to prove a much sterner test altogether with Paul Armstrong’s late penalty conversion securing the home side’s place in the last four.

Clogher coach Stephen Bothwell felt his side were deserving winners on the night.

“It was a tough game; Ballynahinch were well up for it, and they came with a strong squad.

“The rain came down heavy in the second half, and it was difficult playing rugby, but I thought that we were always in control although you are always wary of a breakaway try.

“It was a good workout for the boys, they are young and they really dug in,” he said.

Despite the wet conditions, the visitors were sharp around the pitch and displayed a high level of skill in getting the ball through the backs’ hands to the wingers.

It was the home side playing in their unfamiliar red strip who opened the scoring after 10 minutes with Adam Boles crossing the line, Paul Armstrong adding the extra two points.

Warning shot

’Hinch replied quickly with their own converted try to draw level. This was the warning shot to the Valley side that they had a tough match ahead.

At the 30-minute point, Armstrong – with a cross-field kick – gave Regan Wilkinson the opportunity to out-sprint his opposite number and touch down in the corner.

Armstrong added the extra two points. The Valley led 14-7.

The visitors responded again with their own converted try three minutes later to draw level, but as the half came to a close Armstrong slotted home a penalty to give the home side a slender lead, 17-14.

The home crowd have become familiar to the Valley upping their game in the second half, especially in the last 20 minutes, with their higher level of fitness and skills.

This, however, was not going to happen with this ’Hinch side. The visitors threw everything at the Valley, but the home side’s defence held firm.

A penalty to ’Hinch though brought them level again at 17-17.

With 20 minutes to go, despite the poor weather conditions the Valley started to play expansive rugby and it was now the visitors’ turn to defend.

Wave after wave of surging runs kept ’Hinch pinned in their own half. However, it was simple mistakes from the Valley that would let the visitors clear their lines.

Clogher though were awarded a penalty 30 metres out. Normally, the home side would have kicked to touch, take the line-out and pushed for the full seven points, but the calm head of the skipper called for a shot at the posts.

Armstrong duly added the three points to give the Valley the lead again, 20-17, and this proved decisive when the final whistle was sounded.

Focus

The focus switches back to the league this week with Clogher coming up against an in-form Cooke side at Shaw’s Bridge, with Bothwell knowing that a win is important for his side as they look to keep the pressure on Instonians at the top of the Championship Division One table.

“Their tails are up on the back of some good results in the league and they are also through to the Junior Cup semi-final, so it won’t be easy, but for us it is a matter of keeping the pressure on Instonians,”he added.