Ballyclare 1st XV 16 Clogher Valley 1st XV 5

CLOGHER Valley suffered their first league defeat of the season as Ballyclare gained revenge for their earlier loss to the Valley in the league with a 16-5 win at The Cloughan in Ballyclare.

In a clash of the runaway top two in the table, which was hailed as the ‘Clash of the Titans’, it turned out to be a lacklustre match that never really produced the spectacle the large crowd expected, with neither team really showing what they are capable of.

While the poor weather conditions had an impact on the performance and the officials, who simply would not allow the match to flow, both teams will have been disappointed with their performance on the pitch.

Whilst Ballyclare took the four points from a win, they are still one point behind Clogher Valley in the league.

Valley got off to a terrific start, when David Maxwell charged down a clearance kick and beat everyone to the ball to score the opening try in the corner.

Regrettably, for the visitors, that was the highlight of the match.

A high penalty count against the Valley allowed the home side to remain in the visitor’s half for long periods.

Even when going forward in the scrums, they were penalised, leaving the Valley front row scratching their heads and wondering what they were doing wrong.

With two converted penalties, Ballyclare led at the interval, 6 – 5.

It is normally the second half when the Valley really get into their stride and produce some of the flowing rugby that the supporters have become used to see. It was not to be.

Rarely did play last for more than 20 or 30 seconds, before the whistle was sounded.

Even knock-on advantages were stopped immediately, and it is in circumstances like this that both these teams thrive and punish the opposition.

As the rain continued to fall, the match became a mid-pitch battle, with most of the play taking place between the two 22-metre lines.

The Valley defence was awesome, and despite Ballyclare having the lion’s share of possession, the visitors held their line and kept the home side out.

As the match entered the last 10 minutes, the pressure from the home side eventually told, and Ballyclare crossed the line for their first try. The conversion was added, and the home side led 13-5.

The Valley came back with more aggression, pushing for at least a losing bonus point. They were faster to the rucks and play was now in the Ballyclare 22-metre area.

However, nothing came of the pressure and play eventually returned to the Valley half.

It was yet another penalty against the Valley in front of the posts that sealed the match.

The penalty was goaled and the home side led by 11 points. With just under five minutes left on the clock, there was still a chance of getting that losing bonus point; regrettably even that was against the visitors, and the match was called to a close.

There are seven matches left in the Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship Division One league, with Clogher Valley still leading by one point. The Valley and Ballyclare are a long way ahead of third place Cooke.

The league is now finely balanced, if either side slips up, or even do not win with a bonus point, the positions at the top of the table could change.

The Valley’s fixture list is getting busy, with the side still competing in the All-Ireland Junior Cup, the Town’s Cup and the Ulster Junior Cup still to be competed in.

The Valley now turn their attention to the All-Ireland Junior Cup Semi Final next week away to Newcastle West.