Clogher Valley IV 5 - 10 Strabanes II

Tue 30th Oct 2007

SUPERB VICTORY FOR 2's

REPORT BY GARETH "CALAMITY" CALDWELL

Clogher Valley IV 5 - 10 Strabanes II

Team: - Les, Garry S, Stevenson, Lee, Bert, Ricky, Nigel, Timmy, Clive, Jimmy, David W, Mark Gordon, Crumley, Soupy. Subs, Gordy Baird, Andy Brown, Gareth C. (I know ive left a few out but sorry.)

We arrived up at clogher for an exciting encounter with the valley men on a fantastic day for playing rugby. The team was somewhat experimental with a few new faces and a few people playing in positions that hadnt been tried before. Strabane started on the offensive with some good pressure and kept the clogher men on the back foot with enormous pressure by the forwards. The scrums where doing alright against a heavier Clogher pack with Strabane doing well for the first few pushes although the clogher men then got the momentum behind them and started to push back with them actually getting a few turn overs awarded. The clogher men where using the rolling maul to good effect making plenty of yards up the pitch however, Strabane pressure and a Clogher inability to get good ball out the back line allowed Strabane to regain possession and regain important yardage up the pitch.

Mark Gordon was putting in an impressive performance on the wing and took several good passes and was making yards however, a little inexperience shone through with him running angels when he should have been going straight and not going for the corner when he should have but he will definitely be a young man to watch. The line kicking by Strabane was definitely not up to scratch with a number of important line kicks either not gaining enough yards or else not going over the line. Clogher had started playing scrappy at this stage and where repeatedly playing off side and had hands in the ruck which the ref wasnt noticing. It was from a ruck that Ricky made his greatesty impression on the match with one of the clogher men coming up throwing handbags stating he had been bitten!! How you can get bit through a gum shield is beyond me but these things happen. The ref awarded Strabane the penalty through the mouthing from the Clogher players and then gave them a warning for the future. The decision was made to take a tap penalty and Bert got the ball and managed to barge over the line at the corner with 4 or 5 Clogher men in tow. This more or less completed the half.

Godry and Andy went on for Ricky and Mark at half time with myself waiting for another 15mins or so because Crumley had had no touches of the ball. The line outs then went much better with Gordy ( I believe I can Fly) leaping through the air and claiming everything that went near him. This allowed for an excellent attacking platform for Strabane with the ball being recycled quickly and the backs getting good possession however there was a weak link on the wing. Before you say it Clamity wasnt even on the pitch and it was Andy Brown who just didnt quite get fingers to the ball and knocked forward 2 possible tries. Once again the Clogher forwards where making good progress up the fields and had started to somewhat wear down the Strabane pack. This was allowing for a spate of constant pressure inside the Strtabane 22 however a herculian effort by the Strabane team was keeping them from scoring. At this stage Crumley had went off and I was on the pitch. Clogher gave away a penalty in front of the stranabe posts which Gary kicked up field down the line into the Clogher centres arms. He counter attacked which ended up with Strabane giving away a penalty in front of the posts. They took the tap and eventually squeezed over beside the posts for the try. The conversion was missed as it just about reached the knees of Garry Brannigan and we all know how high it must have went! This had somewhat demoralised the strabane team however a rousing talk at the half way line by our magnificent captain spurred the troops and we got the ball back after the re start through excellent work by the forwards. This gave Timmy 'The tiger' possession and he floated a pass to clive who actually passed the ball instead opf kicking it. Jimmy also passed to David W who sucked in his man and floated the ball out to Soupy who had entered the line and we where making a break for the corner. There we where, Strabane rushing the line with only 2 Clogher men to beat. Soupy drew his man in and, after having serious second thoughts, passed the ball to me on the wing. I saw it hazy though the sunlight, the light glistening around the edges as if it was the holy grail. I took it in the chest and almost felt it cry out 'you got me now run!!!' I looked around and spotted a Clogher second row looking very out of place heading towards me and I in turn was heading towards the corner flag. I put the head down, lit up the after burners and went for it. Next thing I knew I was sliding down on one side over the line hearing the refs whistel and seeing his arm go up. Some people might say that I had an over exurberant try celebration but I think it was very much in consistancy with the pressure of the occasion. Garry just narrowly missed the conversion then the ref blew up. We had done it, snatching a victory from the jaws of a draw when all along we where the better team! This led to much enjoyment and accusations that somebody had smeared tar and other well known sticky substances over my jersey to allow the ball to stick!!

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