Valley edged out in close contest against Malone

Energia All-Ireland League 2B

Clogher Valley....19

Malone....21

AT a windswept and wet Cran on Saturday the visitors Malone edged this fierce encounter by the narrowest of margins.

Storm Amy was still blowing a hoolie as these two sides took to the pitch but it was the Valley who would strike first.

Aaron Dunwoody made the initial break before David Maxwell found the centre pairing of Josh Kyle and Jason Bothwell who exchanged passes before Kyle raced away to score under the posts with only 50 seconds on the clock.

David Maxwell then converted to give the Valley a dream start.

It was difficult to put a decent passage of play together with the continual squalls descending on the pitch. Kicking was a bit of a lottery as were the lineouts so it was mostly a forward dominated game.

Malone as per norm had a big pack that was prepared to do the hard yards. Heroic defence kept them at bay for a while but eventually a penalty close to the posts saw them put three points on the board.

As the game eased into the second quarter the Valley were pressing forward. A penalty to the corner set up a chance. A great take by David Stinson followed by a strong maul resulted in Callum Smyton evading several tacklers to crash over for the Valley second try. On this occasion the attempted conversion came back of the upright.

Malone again gained a strong field position but the Valley was thwarting any try scoring efforts through strong and well marshalled defence.

On the 35 minute mark the first of three yellow cards, on the day, was brandished in the Valley direction.

The high tackle offence was in front of posts and Malone converted their second penalty to reduce the arrears to six points.

They reduced it even further with their third penalty just before the break to leave the half time score at 12-9 in the Valley’s favour.

Like the first half the second half started well for the home side. An attempted long penalty from Maxwell just dipped under the bar, the drop out that followed was fielded by Smyton who went on a rampaging run leaving many defenders in his wake before being dragged down just short.

The rest of the pack then took over and after several carries Stinson crossed the whitewash with two defenders clinging on to him. Maxwell added the extras to bring the Valley tally to nineteen points.

Fifteen minutes into the second period the Valley received the second yellow card. Almost immediately Malone hit back with a converted try of their own to reduce the arrears to three points again.

It was nip and tuck, blow and counter blow for the next 15 minutes before the Valley were hit with their third yellow card. Malone penalty to the corner. Good lineout strong maul and a match winning try which went unconverted.

David Maxwell had a late chance with a penalty. Storm Amy had the final say though as the heavens opened and the wind whipped up again his valiant attempt sailed just wide.

All other games scheduled for the weekend were postponed.

Next Saturday the 1st XV are home again this time to early pace setters Galwegians.

The 2nd XV have a free Saturday with the 3rd XV away in Virginia while on Sunday the ladies are in Lisburn.