Clogher Valley Riugby I XV – 19 v Dromore Rugby I XV – 7

Clogher Valley 1XV – 3 tries, 2 conversions, 0 penalties, 0 drop goals.
Dromore 1XV – 1 tries, 1 conversions, 0 penalties, 0 drop goals.

Valley take the points at home

Clogher Valley entertained Dromore at The Cran in the second of these back to back fixtures. Valley were keen to get back on the winning trail after suffering a two point reversal at Barban Hill last week. Once again the pack was reshuffled. Ronan McAleer and Willie Irvine continued at prop for Moore and Bennett. Ryan Wilson came back at number eight and Ivan Dunn moved to the second row for the unavailable James McFarland .B.J.Wilson replaced Dunn in the back row.

Once again,with all the changes,Valley took time to settle and Dromore kept the home team pinned in the 22 for the first ten minutes. The Valley defence was up to the task and eventually Ryan Wilson broke into the Dromore half where Valley were awarded a penalty. Best kicked to the corner and when Valley secured the ball the drive to the line was penalised for “truck and trailer”.

Play ebbed and flowed as both teams fought for the vital first score. Falconer, Trimble and McClure combined to bring play into the Dromore 22 and from a Valley scrum the Dromore defensive line crept offside in front of the posts. While everybody expected the kick at posts, Skipper Sharkey caught everybody by surprise and took a quick tap penalty to sprint over virtually unopposed. Best’s conversion gave Valley a 7 – 0 lead after 33 minutes.

Philip Falconer effected a trademark turnover on half way and surged into the Dromore 22. Johnny Trimble continued the move and he passed to Guilford who looked certain to score before the Referee accidentally got in the way. From the Valley scrum Ryan Wilson picked up and drove over for Valley’s second try. Best’s excellent touch line conversion left the half time score 14 – 0 to Valley.

Valley started the second half strongly and forced a scrum inside the Dromore 22. A back row move was intercepted and Dromore went the length of the pitch only to be denied a score by a last-ditch tackle. Play became very loose as both teams tried to throw the ball around. Ryan Wilson was unfortunate to be sin-binned for a “team offence” and Dromore turned over a Valley scrum for Bekker to claim the try. Brigl converted to close the score to 14 – 7 with ten minutes on the clock. Bennett came on as a blood replacement for Irvine and when Wilson rejoined the action, Valley laid seige to the Dromore line. The Dromore number 5 was carded for a deliberate knock on and Valley chose the scrum option against the seven man pack. Dromore desperately defended their line as first Wilson then Sharkey were held up. Bates changed the point of attack and popped to Bennett on the charge. He offloaded in the tackle to McAeer who powered over for Valley’s third try. The big Ballygawley man injured himself in the process and was replaced by the evergreen Irvine. Best’s conversion was missed but Valley now had a sniff of a four – try bonus point. Throwing caution to the wind, Valley moved the ball at every opportunity but twice were denied by knock-ons in good scoring positions. Bennett was the victim of” mistaken identity” when he was carded just before the final whistle.

This was a good workmanlike performance to bounce back from defeat the previous week but Coaches and players alike know they will have to up performance levels in the coming weeks.