Ryan Wilson makes a break for Clogher Valley
Clogher Valley 29
CIYMS 10
Clogher Valley moved up to second place in Qualifying League One with an impressive bonus point win against CIYMS at a dank Belmont.
The first scrum saw the Valley pack shunting the CIYMS eight back in an ominous beginning for the home crowd. Good work from number eight Ryan Wilson and then a fine break by Donaldson saw Valley establish good field position in the CIYMS 22. With the home scrum again under pressure, the referee had no option to but to go behind the posts for a penalty try on 7 minutes after the CIYMS front row stood up. Holme added the conversion to leave Valley in front 7-0.
The home team’s efforts to regain the initiative were thwarted when Valley took receipt of the restart and Sharkey made good ground up the middle of the park. Further good work by Valley led to a penalty which was kicked to touch. Valley pressure from the resulting line-out came to nothing after good CIYMS defence yielded a penalty which relieved the danger.
As the first quarter drew to a close the pattern for the match was set with a committed Valley team dominating the tight and dominating the breakdown. A combination of resolute defence from the home team and several penalties against the visitors were to prevent any further score until well into the second quarter.
When the next score came it was the Valley backs, with Holme and Dunlop prominent, as the visitors eked their way into the CIYMS half. A superb break by Breen brought play into the CIYMS half and a clever offload by Sharkey wrecked havoc in the home defence. With a score on the cards, an indiscretion by CIYMS led to a penalty which Holme goaled to leave Valley leading 10-0 on 32 minutes.
A well organised Valley receipt of the restart immediately put the pressure back on CIYMS and Dunlop made a telling break in the centre to bring play right back into the home team’s half. Valley progress was to be halted however when the referee blew for a penalty on 36 minutes, with Ryan Wilson yellow carded.
As has happened frequently this season, the yellow carding was to be costly. An isolated attack by CIYMS was dealt with poorly by the Valley defence and from an ensuing ruck the home team’s scrum half went over to make the score 5-10 on 37 minutes. The conversion was missed and the clock ran down to half time.
A series of rumbles from Moore and then Ryan Wilson found Breen who again tested the home defence. Further pressure on the blind side saw Armstrong reach over the line on 48 minutes for Valley’s second try. The difficult conversion was missed to leave Valley leading 15-5.
Valley dominance was to see further pressure on the home side when Treanor, playing in the centre for the injured Falconer, made a crucial tackle and steal in the centre of the park around halfway. A series of forays by the Valley were repelled and after the home side’s line-out in their 22 was blown up for a crooked throw.
The dominant Valley scrum again rocked the home pack back on their heels before a series of follow up rucks led to the referee penalising CIYMS. With a field position just to the left of the home team’s posts, about 20 metres out, a kick for goal was expected. Valley captain, Best, had other ideas and following a scrum Ryan Wilson picked up to score the visitors third try on 65 minutes. Holme added the extras to see Valley leading 22-5.
With the game reaching its conclusion CIYMS’s back line, who had been reduced to a spectating role for the afternoon, had their say on 76 minutes. A series of attacks from halfway saw the home team switch the ball right and then left and, with the Valley defence stretched, the home team’s winger found the gap on the wide left to score.
A great break by Primrose from the restart gave the Valley a go-forward target. With backs and forwards combining play eventually ended up deep in the CIYMS 22. With options on either side, the Valley pack went for route one and it was Treanor who made the decisive break under the posts to secure the bonus point try. Holme added the extras to leave it 29-10, which was to be how it ended.
Overall, this was Valley’s best performance of the season and restores much confidence for the forthcoming tests ahead, not least the visit of the Connemara All Blacks to the Cran in the All-Ireland Junior Cup quarter final on 22 November.