Clogher Valley battle through to victory at Skerries to take top spot in Energia All-Ireland League 2BN

Skerries ............ 19

Clogher Valley .. 24

CLOGHER Valley overcame Skerries to take top spot in Energia All-Ireland League 2BN.

Valley were strengthened by the return of Kyle and Michael Bothwell in the backs but had lost Phillip Fletcher in the pack.

The forecast for strong winds and heavy rain led to the game being moved to the all-weather pitch. Valley started with the wind in their back but thankfully the rain had stopped.

Valley struggled in the opening minutes conceding a series of penalties which let Skerries have field position. They were further hampered when the injury jinx hit again and second row Matthew Wilson had to leave with a knee injury, Jordan Magner replacing him.

Skerries maintained the pressure and from a line out on eight minutes their forwards drove over for an unconverted try to make it 0-5.

Valley hit back when a penalty, in Skerries’ 22, led to Callum Smyton taking a tap and go which surprised the Skerries defence and he went over untouched for an unconverted try.

The game became stop-start with the number of penalties being conceded, mainly by Valley, at this stage. Neither side were able to string together several phases of play.

After 20 minutes Skerries had a lineout, from a penalty, deep in the Valley 22. A good drive saw the ball released to their No. 12 who went over for a converted try and a 12-5 Skerries lead.

Slowly the game was turning towards Valley as they started to get control of the scums. On 39 minutes good recycling from one saw David Maxwell score an unconverted try and Valley were behind 10-12 at the break.

As Valley started the second half, they had to make another change at scrum-half as Ewan Haire replaced an injured Michael Bothwell.

Valley were much improved as the forwards took control of the game, and with man of the match Ewan Haire sniping at the Skerries defence, began to dominate. The penalty count continued with now Skerries the transgressor.

Maxwell continued to kick well to touch Valley as had a series of lineouts. However, these were a bit of a lottery because of the strong wind and now the driving rain.

After 53 minutes a Valley scrum saw No. 8 Smyton pick up, and with support from his team-mates, drive over for a try converted by Maxwell. Valley had the lead for the first time at 17-12.

Immediately Skerries conceded a yellow card for a high tackle and with Valley forwards now in charge, Skerries struggled to stay in the game. It was no surprise when on 73 minutes the pressure told and flanker Stinson went over for a bonus-point try well, converted by Maxwell and a 24-12 Valley lead.

Valley relaxed a little and a series of penalties give Skerries field position. A kick to touch led to a Skerries lineout drive which Valley stopped. However, Skerries moved the ball blind, and their winger just made the line for a try. From out wide a fantastic conversion, in the conditions, saw the Valley lead reduced to 24-19 after 75 minutes.

In the final minutes, Skerries had a penalty to touch. Valley managed to disrupt and recovered the ball. Unfortunately as they tried to work their way out of the 22, they infringed and Skerries had a final lineout chance.

Again Valley managed to spoil, and the whistle went for full-time and a fine, and deserved, win on the road for Valley.

This was not a game for the purists with the conditions and the penalty count disrupting any flowing rugby. However, the win leaves Valley top of the league on point difference after some of the teams above lost their unbeaten records.

This Saturday has Valley on their travels to play Malone, their closest challenger, who are also undefeated in the league this season. In the last two seasons Malone have won three from four against Valley. One of the losses at the end of last season cost Valley a home play-off tie for AIL 2A promotion.

The winner of the game will go top of the league and have opened a gap on their chasers. This will be a key game so early in the season when with the change to league structure only the top two will be in the playoffs.

In other games, the seconds lost in the Towns Cup to Championship side Ballymoney 5-12 and the thirds beat Queens 3rds 29-21 in a high-scoring league game.

In youth rugby, the u18 and u14s had good wins over Donegal Town, winning 38-0 and 59-5 respectively. The U16s just lost out to the same opponents 15-20.