The U-13s, U-14s and Medallion XV all had very convincing victories at home over Limavady Grammar. The U-13s won 37-5, U-14s won 25–5 and the Medallion (U-15) XV won 46–7 with James Brady and Michael Robinson both having fantastic matches.
Last Friday, the U-12s competed in a Blitz Tournament against RS Armagh, RS Dungannon and Omagh Academy. The A Squad played three matches winning against Dungannon, drawing to Omagh and going down to Armagh.
The B Squad had an excellent win against Omagh and went down to Armagh. Lots of very tired but happy, young boys trudged up the hill at the end. Nathan Richmond and Alex McCurry were two boys of many that stood out on the day.
The Schools Senior Squad travelled up to Limavady to compete in atrocious conditions. The 2nd XV recorded an outstanding victory. Playing with the wind and perhaps still half asleep from the long drive, Portora where put under the pump early by Limavady who scored after the kick-off. The kick was unconverted, Limavady lead 5–0.
Tremendous work from the forward pack, particularly John Arnold, drove Portora back into the match, gaining possession and vital field position. Danny Daly converted two first-rate penalty opportunities to give Portora a half-time lead of 6–5.
Playing into the wind for the second half, Portora had to lift to another level. Powerful running and rucking by Richard Duncan and Captain Adam Byers inspired their team mates onwards.
Late in the match, following strong, sustained pressure from the Portora pack, Stephen Duncan took a lovely pass from scrum half Andrew Cromie on the 22m line and showed amazing footwork, acceleration and determination to dance through and around the Limavady defenders to touch down under the goal posts.
The score 13–5 to Portora, this was a confident and deserved win for the 2nds.
Portora play well
The 1st XV played against a howling wind for the first half on a pitch that closely resembled a mud heap. Kicks for touch being impossible, the Enniskillen lads where forced to run the ball and started to punch holes in the Limavady defence.
Very quick recycling from brutal rucking had the opposition going backwards at pace. Limavady matched Portora for size but clearly lacked the physical presence and conditioning.
Damian Dempster, Head of PE at Portora and the Senior Squad's Strength and Conditioning Coach, has prepared these boys a treat. The power and speed of each player is quite evident.
Limavady were at times running a revolving door policy as player after player left the field for treatment. They simply could not match the Portora intensity.
Graham Noble, James Carleton and Jason Collum all gave strong performances. Portora's forward pack where quite ruthless, angered perhaps by several unsavoury incidents at the bottom of some rucks.
Limavady did themselves no credit and would in hindsight not antagonise Portora like that again.
Midway through the first half Portora scored a grand try, possibly, given the weather conditions, the finest try that they have scored all year.
Ashley Finlay, the Portora full-back caught a high ball on his 22m line. Counterattacking swiftly, he beat three defenders and carried the ball back over the halfway line. At this point, he off loaded in the tackle to James Elliott, who went on one of his stampeding runs down the left flank. Brilliant recycle work led to the ball being shifted quickly to the charging Portora hooker, Nathan Judge, who crashed the ball over the gain-line.
Again, impressive recycling led to the ball transferring quickly through the hands to Finlay, who accelerated through a yawning gap in the Limavady defence to score beside the right-hand goal post.
Helped by the conditions, Limavady did play well as the final score of 8–3 indicates. Twice, once in the first half and then in the second Finlay had to produce try-saving tackles. This, however, was really the only times that Limavady threatened with Portora solidly in control for the majority of the match.
Gareth Beatty had an opportunity to increase his try total but dropped a sitter with the try line beckoning. Finlay dropped another under the shadow of the posts from a snappy backline move and later lost his footing with only the full-back to beat.
While Portora did fluff some scoring opportunities, they did produce a lot of good rugby in conditions that really were diabolical. This team is clearly improving with each match. To play with the openness, flair and confidence that were displayed was very encouraging. On a dry pitch it would have been 30–0.
Limavady is the team that has the Ulster Schools U-18 full-back playing for them. Finlay out pointed his opponent all day and the question should again be asked why didn't he get picked this year.
The Ulster U-18 and U-19 representative teams had a very poor Inter-provincial Series. Having watched three of the four matches, and as the results indicate, the wrong players where selected. When you don't win a match, as was the case with the U-19s, questions must be asked.
Either way, several Portora players should have received representative honours not just the deserved Gareth Beatty and Paul Galbraith. Nicholson Boyd and Gareth Buchanan clearly out played their representative opponents from RBAI two weeks ago. What about James Elliott? Is there a better No.12 playing U-19s at the moment? Alistair Blair has been exceptional for Portora as well this season. Why is it that big Belfast Schools get three or four players selected in squads when Portora's results indicate that they are one of the top first XVs going around but still only have the odd player selected? On account of their results, pressure is being mounted to move Portora into the 4th Round of this year's Schools Cup. Makes you wonder.
This argument counts for nought if Portora don't perform next year in the 2007 Schools Cup. These players won't need a second chance to remind people that they are good enough. They want to achieve and aren't afraid to set the personal goal of achieving greatness. Luck with the draw will play some small part, but belief, intensity and performance come from within.
This Saturday, Portora host Sligo Grammar at home. Come and support the boys in black. The 1st XV kick off at 10.45am. Spectators are asked not to park on Portora Lane or on the back hill. Please go up and park at the front of school. Disabled access, however, is available to those in need.
