Instonians 1st XV 34 Clogher Valley 1st XV 6.

The only way is up for Clogher Valley and their new coach Hemi Taukiri who is now in place after arriving at the club this week following his appointment at the end of last season. 
The New Zealander saw the defeat to Instonians and took his first training session with Clogher Valley on Tuesday evening. 
In the end the Valley lost heavily to Instonians at the weekend matching them in the first half with the game tied at 6-6 before a more experienced and physically stronger Belfast side pulled away in the second half to win with a degree of ease after putting 28 points on the board. 
Neil Trotter kicked the two penalties for the Valley in the first half but they had no answers to the Inst power and pace in the second half with the heavy defeat meaning they now prop up the table with three losses in their three league games this season. 
Much work to be done then but the size of the task is not fazing Taukiri who has coached in New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and Spain for the best part of 20 years.
Taukiri has a rich playing pedigree as well representing the Maori sevens and tens. He was also in line to play for the Maori 15 side against England before he ‘blew his knee’ from which he never fully recovered. Coaching was then to attract him and he has gained lots of experience in the intervening period and he has a good knowledge of Clogher Valley and Junior rugby in Ireland as a whole. 
“I first came across Clogher Valley when I was coaching in Skibbereen and we played them in the All-Ireland Junior Cup in 2013, I think,” revealed the New Zealander. 
“Clogher won that day and the boys have certainly been reminding me. I have a good knowledge of junior rugby in Ireland and the standard is very high.” 
He is hoping his experiences can add a new dimension to the Valley camp. “I want to bring some fresh ideas and perhaps a different style of play. Clogher are in transition, they have lost a lot of experienced players, have a very young team and are not as big as they used to be. The game game has changed and evolved and we as coaches, players and the club must also evolve or we will get left behind. 
“We will keep the forward part of the game but add a little more width to our play. Davy Black and all the coaches have been doing a great job. All we want to do is build further and the aim of any coach is to leave the club in a better place when he leaves than when he arrived. I have been impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment of the players and while the start to the season has not been great, it is a long season. Davy and I will work together and hopefully put in a foundation from which the club can progress further,” concluded Hemi.