DISAPPOINTED…Clogher Valley coach David Black
JUNIOR CUP
Clogher Valley….6
Ballyclare…………8
When top of Q1 plays top of Q2 with both sides averaging 30 points per game some spectators would have expected a high scoring game.
However both sides also have the an extremely able defence coughing up less than 15 points per game and defence proved to be the victor in this enthralling game.
From the start Ballyclare threw everything at Valley to no avail.
Valley weathered the storm and slowly started to dominant the game with the powerful driving of their pack.
After 10 minutes Valley took the lead 3-0 with a penalty by Best. Ballyclare could not get possession and utilise their normal running game. However defensively they were putting bodies on the line and making it difficult for Valley.
Any ball Ballyclare did win their stand in scrum half, their man of the match, kept Valley on the back foot with his kicking. In the 17 minute from one of his clearances Valley took too long to clear to touch and were charged down and Ballyclare were awarded a scrum. Ballyclare were struggling in the scrum but just managing to hold their own.
They won the scrum and the scrum half went blind. He was missed by poor Valley defence and ran in from 20 metres for a try very much against the run off play for a 5-3 lead.
Valley returned to the attack and took the lead 6-5 with another Best penalty on 23 minutes.
As half time approached Valley continued to command territory and possession without making any real headway. However at half time they were in control of the game and would have been expected to push on to a win.
Valley failed to deliver in the second half. They were one dimensional continuing to drive around the sides of ruck and maul and this was easily defended by a Ballyclare side growing in confidence.
After 48 minutes Ballyclare took a 8-6 lead with a penalty when Valley lost a scrum on their 22 and were penalised at the following breakdown.
Valley continued to maintain possession but aggressive Ballyclare defence kept pushing them back. Valley kept pressing and after 43 minutes a phase of over 10 possessions on the Ballyclare line should have led to a score but again at the crucial moment Valley were turned over and the danger for Ballyclare was over.
Valley continued to exert pressure and on two occasions when awarded kickable penalties went to their lineout. Unfortunately this was also struggling and they could not make the break through and Ballyclare ran out winners of a game which highlighted everything good in Junior rugby.
Valley coaches Black and Kyle will have been disappointed with the result in a game Valley should have won with 60-70% possession but it which they failed to score a try for the first time this season.
Next week they return to league action away to Dromore.