Grosvenor 4th XV began their assault on the McCambley Cup on Saturday against Portadown at Shorts in cool but otherwise good conditions. With no other matches up the club the ground was chock full of spectators from early on and there was standing room only on the home touchline.
In the early stages the 4s coped well with the added pressure of such a big crowd, which numbered in the 30s, and put Portadown under great pressure but the scores didnt materialise and Portadown began to grow into the game. Although several of their players wouldnt have had much room in their shirts for growing.
Eventually Grosvenor did break the deadlock when Smut scored in the corner with the conversion missed. A second try followed with a penalty also converted before Portadown got their first try from some callamitous work in defence by Grosvenor. A kick was charged down and the ball bobbled around on the ground for several seconds before a Portadown player scored. Portadown appeared to score a second try before half time only for it to be ruled out after the referee referred the decision to the TMO.
In the second half Portadown did get a second try which was converted to bring the score to 13-12 and Grosvenor were beginning to look like they might throw away the match. Smut added a second penalty to bring the score to 16-12 and the 4s should have had a 3rd try when the rolling maul from a lineout was carried over the try line. But no one could get the ball to ground and a Portadown player managed to steal the ball and the chance went begging.
This further invigorated Portadown and they scored a 3rd try to take the lead for the first time in the game with the clock ticking away. At this point events took a rather bizarre twist with the usually mild mannered Roly Coey becoming hugely irate when the Grosvenor winger was tackled round the neck. Roly took his vehemence and disquiet out on the referee who didnt take his concerns well and sent Roly off!
Now trailing 17-16 and with time running out Grosvenor needed to rally quickly and get some sort of score or the dreams of a cup run were going to be over for another season. Portadown had conceded a number of penalties at the breakdown during the game and this was again to be their achilles heel as they conceded another one 30 metres out and straight in front. Smut slotted the 3 pointer and victory was snatched. Final score 19-17.
On a cloggy, heavy day Grosvenor forwards were dominant at lineout and used the rolling maul effectively all day and their contributions should be noted but man of the match is shared between DJ who was a constant thorn in the Portadown side and Smut who contributed a try and 3 penalties.
Tougher test will lie ahead for the 4s in the quest for silverware this season but you have to be in it to win it and thats exactly what they are!
PTBAS
