FIGHTING 4TH XV V COOKE MATCH REPORT
09/09/20130 Comments
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Portadown 4 XV v Cooke 3 XV (league)
Date – 7 September 2013
Venue – Home, Chambers Park
Result – 24 (10) – (7) 14
Try(s)
1 Muldrew
1 Lawson
1 Caldwell
Con(s)
3 Lawson
Pen(s)
1 Lawson
Portadown 4 XV opened their season with a 24-14 win over Cooke 3XV at chambers Park. Portadown were in the ascendency from the start and almost cursed to a 10 – 0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a try from Aaron Muldrew followed by a conversion and a penalty kick by the experienced Colin Lawson. Cooke were further penalised under their posts but were not punished as the home team opted to scrum and failed to capitalise.
This spurred Cooke on and they scored two tries either side of the break by their left wing and out half respectfully, to take the lead 10 – 14. Cooke could have easily extended their led except for a poor kicking display from their out half.
Lawson put the hosts back in front again (17 – 14) when he converted his own fine individual try from under the posts. After several phases of play Lawson cut inside the defence to steam in from 15 metres.
Straight from the restart Cooke had a penalty chance to draw level but pushed their effort wide to the right.
Portadown finished with a further long period of pressure. Caldwell capitalised on an error in the Cooke defence to gather the breaking ball and score wide on the left. Later in the club he reported that he “didn’t think I was going to be able to get back on my feet after that!”
Lawson finished with another conversion into the wind to finish with 4/4 off the tee and a personal tally of 14 points.
The Fourths took the field in their new look “streamline” cut kit on Saturday sponsored by John McAllister of Festo, Tsvika Gershovitz of Craftstone and Captain Keith Boyce of Money Matters. The players and management would like to extend their thanks and appreciation of their generosity and hopefully they are a good omen for the rest of the season.
