Clogher Valley 1st XV 43 CIYMS 1st XV 10

Clogher Valley make it eight wins from eight games in Ulster Championship Division One, by beating CIYMS in Belfast 43-10.

The Valley’s seven tries secured another bonus point, keeping them five points ahead of their nearest rivals, Ballyclare, and nine points clear of third-place Cooke.

The Valley were the first on the score sheet after three minutes, when Eugene McKenna charged down a clearance kick. Beating the two CIYMS backs to the ball, he set up a ruck, which led to a Valley scrum.

Callum Smyton picked up from the back of the scrum and popped to David Maxwell, who scored in the corner.

CIYMS competed hard for the next 15 minutes and most of the play was between the two 22-metre areas.

But it was the Valley to score next. A scrum five metres from the CIYMS try line saw a repeat of the first try as Callum Smyton picked up from the back of the scrum, but rather than popping the ball, he drove himself and went through the CI defence to score beside the posts. Maxwell converted to give the visitors a 12-0 lead.

CI converted a penalty in front of the posts to get them on the score sheet, but from the restart, the Valley kept the pressure on the home side.

A CI lineout missed their jumper and was pounced on by the Valley, Michael Treanor drove hard through the CI pack but was stopped short.

The result of the Valley scrum was a repeat of the first, Callum Smyton picked up, the ball was spread, and Taine Haire was on the receiving end of a ten-metre pass to score in the corner to leave it 17-3 at half time.

It didn’t take Clogher long to get into their stride in the second half, putting together a series of plays that kept the CI team trying to guess where the attack was coming from.

It was another overthrown CI lineout that brought the Valley their bonus point.

Clogher recycled the ball several times, pulling the CI defence from the left to the right of the pitch, then when the opposition’s defence was in disarray, Paul Armstrong delayed the pass then popped to Ewan Haire coming at pace, who cut through the defence like a knife through butter to score beside the posts.

David Maxwell added the conversion to put the Valley 24-3 ahead.

The Valley was now in full control, Reece Smyton broke several tackles, then popped to Paul Armstrong, who then off-loaded to David Stinson for the visitors’ fifth try; Maxwell converted.

Ten minutes later the Haire brothers combined well together, and Taine was on the receiving end of the pass to score Valley’s sixth. Maxwell again added the extras.

CI capitalised on a Valley mistake to get their only try of the match.

It was then down to prop forward Richard Primrose to wrap up the scoring for the Valley.

A superb Valley backs move went through several recycles, then Primrose was on hand to drive over to give the Valley a win by 43-10.

CIYMS had control of the ball for large portions of this game, but this is a very talented Valley side who soak the pressure, then pounce.

The pack is incredibly mobile, and the balls skills of the whole team is a joy to watch. This is a highly-motivated and well-coached team, who are playing the best rugby ever seen in Valley colours.

The attention now switches to the All-Ireland Junior Cup with a home match against Greggs RFC from Galway. A large crowd is requested to cheer the team on.