BALLYMENA ......................... 7
CLOGHER VALLEY ................ 14
The well-oiled Clogher Valley machine continued to splutter at Eaton Park on Saturday, in the Powerade Towns Cup Quarter-final,but came away with a well-deserved win despite being reduced to 14 men with 25 minutes of normal time to go.
In fact, if Valley had taken all their chances in normal time, there would have been no need for extra time. As it was, their superior fitness stood to them as they finished the stronger to score the decisive try with five minutes of extra time left.
The pack gave notice of things to come in the first five minutes when a 40m driving maul left the Ballymena pack wondering what had hit them. Ballymena also signaled their intent by releasing their speedy back line at every opportunity to stretch the Valley defence.
The deadlock was finally broken after 20 minutes when a well-rehearsed move saw the full-back come into the line to split the Valley midfield and score at the posts. The successful conversion gave the home team a 7-0 lead as the game entered the second quarter.
Valley contributed to their own downfall with a litany of unforced errors. Handling mistakes and misplaced kicks handed the initiative back to Ballymena time and again. The Ballymena openside flanker was carded for one too many indiscretions and the Valley pack began to turn the screw against the seven-man pack.
Another driving maul was brought down illegally just short of the line. Sensing blood, Skipper Richmond opted for the scrum and the Ballymena pack was shunted back over their own line for number eight Ryan Wilson to claim the try. Lyons converted and the scores were tied with five minutes to go to half-time.
Ballymena were playing with a strong wind at their backs, so Valley were happy to keep in touch at the interval. Indeed, Ballymena finished the half strongly but the Valley tackling was up to its usual standard with open side Giles to the fore. A missed penalty by the home out half left the score 7-7 at half time.
As often happens, the wind died in the second half and Ballymena gained a foothold in the Valley 22. They did make it over the Valley line but excellent work by Chris Robinson denied a certain score. Six minutes into the second half, Gary Andrews was replaced at tight head by Philip Moore after taking a knock on the shoulder. Lyons was unlucky to miss a kickable penalty when the ball fell over as he was about to kick it.
Play continued to ebb and flow as both teams strove to get the important breakthrough. After 15 minutes of the second half, Valley were dealt a body blow when Flanker Gary Giles was red-carded for a second high tackle – a harsh decision considering that the game was being played in good spirit by both teams. To add salt to the wounds, Chris Robinson was yellow-carded to reduce Valley to 13 men with 25 minutes to go.
These setbacks seemed to spur Valley to greater efforts and they began to find the sort of form that has brought them the runners-up spot in the Kukri Qualifying League. A kickable penalty was tapped but Ballymena held the Valley forwards out. Another penalty was awarded in front of the posts, but Valley continued to run the ball and lost, not only the advantage given by the referee, but also the opportunity of a simple three points.
Ballymena did have an opportunity to steal the tie but a penalty attempt barely got off the ground and the game ended 7-7. Ten minutes each way extra time beckoned and Valley were left to reflect on how the game had got to that stage.
The home team were boosted by the large crowd of spectators coming from the All-Ireland League game being played on the adjoining pitch.
Spurred on by this extra vocal support, Ballymena started strongly but excellent defensive work by Dunlop and Robinson brought about timely turnovers. Good interplay involving Sharkey, Dunlop and Ally Breen threatened the Ballymena line but a knock-on handed the initiative back to the hosts. Play continued from end to end. Andy Breen made an excellent tackle and Robinson again held up the attackers to deny Ballymena .
Valley counterattacked and were awarded a five metre scrum. The seven-man pack, which was more than holding its own, pushed Ballymena back over their own line but when the ball crossed the line, a Ballymena hand was first on the ball to prevent a certain score. The first half of extra time ended with the two teams still locked at 7-7.
The Valley team emerged from their final huddle determined to get the decisive score. The backs started to spread the ball to stretch the home defence. Ally Breen ran the ball from deep and released the two energetic and athletic second row forwards, Robinson and Sharkey down the right flank but the latter was tackled into touch ten metres from the line.
Breen had been taken out, off the ball by the Ballymena number 4 as he tried to get up. The offender was given a yellow card to end his involvement in the game and the teams were level, not only in the score line, but also in personnel on the pitch.
Continuous Valley pressure had Ballymena reeling on the ropes and the pressure finally told when the out half was forced to knock on ten metres from his own line.
Ryan Wilson was the beneficiary of this mistake and he powered towards the line through some desperate defenders.
Driven by his own players, he spun out of the grasp of the would-be tacklers to touch down to the left of the posts for his second try of the match. Weir converted 14-7 to Valley with five minutes remaining, but there was still time for another twist in this pulsating game.
Unlike Ireland against France three weeks ago, Clogher played percentage rugby to run the clock down. There was one scare when a swift Ballymena counterattack sent their left winger clear. A superb cover tackle by Ally Breen saved a certain score and the game finished with Valley again on the attack.
This was a massive effort by all the players to prevail against a very good, well-drilled Ballymena team, despite the loss of a player for nearly half of the game. Coach Glen Kyle was delighted with the commitment and effort of his team against all the odds.
Clogher Valley await the draw for the semi-final with interest.
