Clogher Valley 40 City Of Derry 22

City of Derry arrived at the Cran for the first time in over ten years and produced a first-half performance that rattled the Clogher Valley support and caused consternation among the coaching fraternity.

The visitors have a big pack that would dominate the early exchanges and a useful backline which would capitalise when given the opportunity.

Three minutes in, they converted a long-range penalty to take an early lead.

The Valley responded by encamping deep in the red zone and several penalties later were able to strike back. Good lineout routine followed by several pick and goes with Neill Henderson eventually crashing over for the opening try of the game. David Maxwell would add the extras.

Derry, despite struggling to contain the Valley scrum, went on to dominate the remainder of the half with aggressive ball carrying and some clever footwork from the backline. A classic ‘show and go’ by their out half set up a chance which was well finished off and duly goaled by the No. 10.

After 35 minutes they scored again. A fine break by the outside centre put their full back in for a try which was then converted. As the heavens opened the Valley gained more control but despite a series of five-metre scrums couldn’t bother the score board for the remainder of the half.

Horrendous conditions

The second period saw a transformation in fortunes for the Valley. The horrendous conditions of the first half eased, the Valley upped the ante and as the half progressed the Derry pack were visibly flagging.

Skipper Paul Armstrong led the revival; he was in the heart of everything positive, making several line breaks and creating chance after chance.

Seven minutes in Reece Smyton crossed for a try with David Maxwell converting to reduce the arrears to a mere three points. Five minutes later an Armstrong incision put Matthew Bothwell in beside the posts for David Maxwell to oblige with the conversion.

A scrum penalty created the next opportunity, David Maxwell eased his pack close to the line, Aaron Crawford found Eugene McKenna in the line out and the ensuing maul surged forward with Callum Smyton getting the touchdown, which on this occasion went unconverted.

Reece Smyton made a line break, Paul Armstrong supporting raced 40 metres before being dragged down but Eugene McKenna was in attendance to crash over for the Valley fifth try, converted by David Maxwell.

A few lapses in concentration let Derry in for their third try – it went unconverted, thus wrapping up their scoring for the day.

Shortly after the restart Mathew Bothwell had to leave the field with a nasty-looking leg injury. His brother, Michael, replaced him in the scrum half spot and immediately set up the final try of the day.

He broke around a retreating Derry scrum to put man of the match David Stinson clear to run in for a well-deserved try. Maxwell converted, giving the Valley an 18-point advantage at the final whistle.

The 1st XV remains top of the Ulster Championship Division One, as do the 2nd XV who sit top of the Provincial Premier Division 1 with three wins and a draw from their four outings, and the 3rds on top of the Ulster Rugby Regional South 2 league. Elsewhere in the club, the U-16s won 19-7 over Strabane.

History was made again at the Valley with an U-18, U-16, U-14 side from both the boys and girls section fielding teams on the same day.

Next Saturday, the 1st XV travel to CIYMS in Belfast for their eighth league game, with a 2.30pm kick-off.