Clogher Valley make Towns Cup semi-final

Towns Cup quarter-final

Clogher Valley....27

Ballinahinch.... 5

THE Valley made it through to a second semi-final of the season on Saturday after this hard earned victory over visitors `Hinch at the Cran.

After playing five games in 15 days, it was decided to rest a third of the team with the replacements really stepping up to the mark.

An early Paul Armstrong sortie was quickly repulsed as `Hinch soon took control of possession and field position. Six minutes in a powerful rolling maul saw them surge over for a deserved try which went unconverted.

Minutes later the Valley struck back. A sweeping movement launched the two Haire’s, Ewan and Taine, into space.

A quick interexchange of passes saw Haire the younger squeeze in at the corner to maintain his phenomenal scoring tally for the season. It went unconverted but the Valley were back on terms.

The remaining 30 minutes was a titanic battle. Ballinahinch edged proceedings throughout but a massive defensive effort kept them at bay. Superb turn overs by Corneel Michem and Callum Smyton saved the day.

Jamie Allen was outstanding in every department. Matthew Wilson lorded the lineout providing quality possession as the Valley launched their own offensives.

It was a super encounter, best rugby seen at the Cran for some time. Both sides went close but in the end neither could bother the score board for the remainder of the half.

Playing toward the Golf Club end in the second period the Valley lifted the intensity. On the 45-minute mark, Neil Trotter eased the Valley ahead with a well struck penalty.

Minutes later he launched another penalty deep into the visitors red zone. Good lineout, powerful driving maul and David Stinson touched down for the important try.

It went unconverted but the visitors now needed two scores to win.

As the half progressed, the Valley upped the ante again with pace power and accuracy so much so the ‘Hinch struggled to hang in there at times.

After a multi phased play Callum Smyton broke clear to score under the posts with Trotter adding the extras. Going in to the final quarter of the match, 'Hinch launched everything they had left at the Valley line. The defensive effort was incredible with man of the match Smyton in the thick of it.

Two turnovers by the number eight were crucial as the Valley held out. With minutes to go he broke down the blindside and grubber kicked into touch deep in the `Hinch half.

As the visitors tried to regroup and play from deep, Trotter, who had a fine outing, intercepted, and raced in for the final try which he duly goaled to wrap up proceedings for the day.

Valley moves into the semi-final, awaiting the draw to see if the face Monaghan, Enniskillen or Ballyclare.

Elsewhere in the club, fantastic performances for the U14 boys and girls.

The U14 boys came from 28-7 down to draw 33-33 with Monaghan, and the U14 girls travelled to Malone in the U14 Cup, but the journey up the M1 did not phase them as they came away winners 32-12.

Commiserations to the thirds who were closely beaten at Portadown and to the U16 boys who were narrowly defeated by Portadown 23-21, and the U16 girls who came off second best against a strong Letterkenny side.

Looking forward, the second XV take on Dromore Two in the league tonight (Wednesday) at the Cran, with a kick off at 7.30pm and the first XV back in action against Cooke in the Junior Cup, again at the Cran, which is expected to be a tough encounter.