City of Derry 1st XV 22 Clogher Valley 1st XV 28

Clogher Valley sealed their place in the next round of the Towns’ Cup with a 28-22 win away to City of Derry of Saturday.

The Championship Division One league leaders trailed 10-5 at half time but they turned things in their favour to lead 28-15 before the home side registered a late try.

On a very windy day at Judges Road, and with a series of important games up to New Year, Valley made five changes in the pack.

Primrose, Dunwoody, E McKenna, Stinson and Wilson were replaced by Sharkey, M McKenna, Busby, Coulter and for a first start Cullian. With Michem missing in the backs, rearrangement was necessary.

Valley, playing against the strong wind, had the better of the early exchanges as they moved the ball at every opportunity.

Two good runs by T Haire kept the pressure on City of Derry, but a series of niggly injuries to both sides stopped the flow of the game.

Valley lost centre Bothwell with Smyton moving to no12.

On the home side’s first venture into the Valley 22 a well executed lineout was stopped with a Smyton turnover.

Then, in the 16th minute, an attempted kick by the City Of Derry No 10 was charged down.

However, the ball ran free and he was able to hack it towards the Valley line. With Valley defence caught out of position the race was won by the home team’s pacey centre who dived over in the corner for the opening score to make it 5-0.

The game became a midfield battle between two strong defences.

Valley were playing the better rugby and were dominating the scrum.

One pick-up from the base of the scrum by Sharkey, in their own 22, saw Smyton release Maxwell, who spotting the gap, took play to the City Of Derry 22.

Valley won a penalty in front of the posts but decided to have a scrum. This was duly won but then the drive to the line was penalised and City Of Derry cleared the danger.

After 35 minutes, from a line-out on the City Of Derry 22, the No 10 launched a booming kick which saw a 50/22 for the home side.

It was only the second time City Of Derry had been in Valley 22 and they made it pay when their driving maul went over for another try. Unconverted the home side led 0-10 despite the Valley superiority.

On half time Valley had another penalty that they kicked to the corner. A good drive by forwards and backs eventually saw Captain Armstrong go over in the corner. The difficult kick was missed and City Of Derry went into half time leading 5-10.

Valley came out with renewed urgency in the second period. In the 48th minute, the pressure told and a long-range penalty from Maxwell reduced the City Of Derry lead to two points, 8-10.

City Of Derry were giving away penalties and Valley went close again when a quickly-taken penalty by E Haire saw Valley deep in the City Of Derry 22.

Valley won the line out but conceded another penalty.

Valley continued to recycle at will and City Of Derry were struggling to contain them.

It was no surprise when on 50 minutes a combination of forwards and backs led to a try for T Haire. Maxwell’s kick was good and Valley led 15-10 for the first time in the game.

In the 60th minute a long kick from City Of Derry was fielded by fullback E Haire. He returned with interest and achieved a 50/22.

Valley won the lineout but City Of Derry infringed and Maxwell slotted over the kick for Valley to lead 18-10 into the final quarter. Clogher added to their total in the 66th minute when Treanor barged over from the 22, clearing City Of Derry defenders like skittles.

Maxwell added the conversion and Valley led 25-10.

On 70 minutes, City Of Derry were forced to a goal line drop out. Whilst the clearance was long, it was taken by Maxwell who proceeded to split the uprights with a marvellous drop goal from 35 metres. Valley led 28-10.

It was all one-way traffic now. However, a mistake in attack saw a City Of Derry interception go from their own 22. The player was caught but Valley infringed and a Yellow Card followed.

The kick to touch produced another rolling maul and a City Of Derry try. The kick was missed, but Valley now led 28-15.

Valley, down to 14, lost their shape and a series of mistakes allowed City Of Derry to collect the ball for another converted try. However, this was the final act of the game, and a deserved 28-22 win for Valley.

Whilst the score was close at the end, it does not reflect the Valley dominance. All the changes fitted in seamlessly, showing the club’s strength in depth and ability to interchange and still play the same adventurous rugby.

City of Derry 1st XV 22

Clogher Valley 1st XV 28Man of the Match was one of those changes. Mark McKenna fully deserved the award, with his hard yards made carrying and defensive tackling.

Next week, Valley are back at the Cran in a league fixture with CIYMS. Kick-off is 2.30pm.

Elsewhere in the club, the U-14 Girls won 49 - 5 against Finn Valley, The U-16 Boys went down 17 - 0 against Strabane, and the U-14 Boys won 15 - 10 against Strabane.