Valley’s Mark McKenna drives over to score a try for the home side in their cup match against Dungannon.
Clogher Valley II 43
Dungannon III 7
This was the best performance of the season from Valley seconds who avenged a recent league defeat by the visitors in emphatic fashion in this Crawford Plate tie.
With 1st XV coaches and players watching the young and relatively inexperienced seconds laid down a marker for the future.
Though Dungannon had the larger pack it did not faze the Valley pack who, whilst held in the scrum, dominated the line-out, where Mulligan stole at least four Dungannon throws, and the loose where the back row of Alex and Ian McKeown with Clarke knocked back everything that moved, ably supported by the other forwards.
Behind the scrum Trotter at scrum half showed his potential and the experienced Glenn and Speers used his service to keep the pressure on.
Valley were on top from the start but only led 5-0 after a rolling maul saw Clarke drive through for a try. They added to this after 20 minutes when a deft chip from Potter to left winger McKeown was touched down and then converted by Potter for a 12-0 lead.
Clark scored again after 31 minutes when a line-out move saw him drive through the centre of the Dungannon defence after Trotter had provided the impetus with a deft chip which forced the Dungannon defence to scramble in to touch. Again Trotter converted and Valley led 19-0.
Before half time Trotter added another try himself. Valley defence had knocked the ball free on half way when he managed to hack through and then win the race for the line. Half time arrived with Valley well in control at 24-0.
Some of the Valley rugby had been sublime in the first half and it continued after half time. Valley bombarded the Dungannon line and pulled them all over the pitch to eventually release Trotter again for a try in the corner and a 29-0 lead.
Valley continued with excellent recycling between backs and forwards. Again Clarke made the gap and McKenna squeezed through for another try. McGinley converted and Valley led 36-0 after 57 minutes. Unfortunately in off-loading Clarke sustained a serious ankle injury and had to be replaced.
Shortly after Dungannon gained a consolation converted try when Valley lost composure in defence for the only time in the game.
Valley completed the scoring in the final minutes when Speers picked up at the base of a ruck and spotting a gap scampered over for another try converted by McGinley and a 43-7 victory.
The result is evidence that additional coaching staff provided to concentrate on the seconds on Thursday night training is starting to pay real dividends.