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Clogher Valley seconds power way through to quarter-finals

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Dromore II 0
Clogher Valley II 41.

CLOGHER Valley Rugby Club's second team powered into the quarter-final of the Crawford Cup on Saturday, following a 41 point victory over Dromore at the county Down venue, with the referee calling an end to the match 20 minutes early.
Valley were dominant from the outset, and were rewarded after five minutes when full-back Dynes fed winger, Creaney, on the Dromore 10-metre line, and the winger outsprinted the defence to score. Outhalf Holme added the conversion to make it 10-0 to Valley.
The ensuing 15 minutes was one of frustration for Valley, with at least two try scoring chances passed up and the home side's repeated infringements at the breakdown leading to stern words for the Dromore captain by the young referee, who performed very capably throughout.
On 20 minutes, Holme added a penalty to the Valley total to extend the lead to 10 points.
This seemed to galvanise Valley who upped their game and killed the match off in a 15 minute flurry before half-time. First, second row Trimble appeared on the shoulder of Holme, following a lineout on the home team's '22', to power through the Dromore defence, with Holme adding the conversion to increase the lead to 17 points.
Then a strong Valley scrum saw number eight, McLennan, score a further try, following a rehearsed back row move. A conversion from Holme brought the score to 24-0 in Valley's favour.
As half-time approached, a desperate attack from Dromore led to a loose pass on the Valley 10 metre line, which was gratefully accepted by McLennan, who outlasted the chasing defenders to score his second try. A good conversion by Holme brought the score to 31-0 to Valley, and half-time was reached.
Good scrum
The second half began as the first finished, with Valley pressing on the Dromore '22'. With seven minutes gone, a good scrum from Valley saw captain Greaves thunder over for a try after another back row move. The score was unconverted to leave Valley leading 36-0.
More pressure from Valley led to another try, this time from scrum half Glenn who surged forward into Dromore '22', with the Valley pack arriving en masse to push him over the Dromore line. After the conversion was missed, the referee brought matters to an early conclusion.
It was a good team performance with every player making a contribution to the victory. Valley were particularly effective in their back five, with Trimble causing destruction in the loose, McLennan providing tireless and effective support to all of the Valley attacks, and captain Greaves a great lineout leader and general presence in the loose.
It was also good to see Baxter make a return in a Valley jersey, at number seven, in a very encouraging performance. Behind the pack, the backline always looked sharp and dangerous, and were well served by half-back pairing, Glenn and Holme.
The evidence of training by the team is paying off and with continued commitment anything is possible for the seconds in cup and league as the season enters the home straight.

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