ENNISKILLEN 10 – 10 PORTADOWN

The Blues final game of the season was a re-arranged away fixture with Enniskillen. Having beaten them comfortably at home earlier in the season, confidence was high at kickoff. For most of the opening exchanges Portadown were camped deep inside the Enniskillen half but couldn’t make their dominance reflect on the scoreboard – despite playing with a considerable breeze. The hosts had very little possession or field position and with the benefit of hindsight perhaps Portadown should have opted for the posts when presented with penalties. They didn’t, and the first half ended as it started 0-0.
Portadowns decision-making was brought sharply into focus at the start of the second period when Enniskillen (now playing with the wind) were awarded a penalty and opted to kick for the posts. The kick was successful from the 10meter line. 3-0 to Enniskillen. Buoyed by their barely deserved lead, the hosts dander was up and they started to chip away at the Blues defence. A speculative kick went dead and
seemingly the danger was cleared. In a moment of madness though the restart was kicked directly to an opponent who had the easiest of tasks to score under the posts. 10-0 Enniskillen.
The shock of suddenly being 10-0 down seemed to harden the Blues resolve and despite having the wind and rejuvenated opponents against them they set about putting it right. Noticeably the forwards upped their game, getting to the breakdown quicker and providing better ball for Brian Graham at scrum half. This was key in the Blues first score, quick ball from a ruck played through the hands for winger Lee Mustoe
to score out wide. Too wide for stand-in place kicker Tony Murray. 10-5.
With five minutes left on the clock Portadown got the equalising score, impressive prop John Purdy showing considerable pace to break through the line and subsequent tackles to touch down. Again the angle was too acute for the kicker, 10-10. Both sides had chances in the dying seconds of the game but on reflection a draw was probably the right result.
Best on the day were Phelim Marrion who had a good game standing in at number ten. Flanker Pete Ligget who showed real character to recover from an early mistake and prop John Purdy – the fastest prop in the league.  Overall it has been a very successful season for the 5XV, second in the league with 25 points behind winners Dungannon is a great achievement. Even more so when you think that the 5XV were propping up this league only a couple of years ago. Credit must go to captain Simon Carey for building a team capable of competing and challenging in this league and perhaps just as important fostering a team spirit second to none in the club.

CAVAN MATCH REPORT

Portadown 47 – 5 Cavan With the 5xv’s recent run of good results there was no lack of confidence going into this game against a Cavan 2xv side who still had serious aspirations of league and cup success. A big physical pack is what Cavan teams have been …noted for down through the years and Portadown’s diligent work at the breakdown and around the fringes during the opening exchanges served notice that the Blues weren’t going to be muscled off the ball on their home patch.

Indeed it was ten minutes of dour, dogged rugby before the breakthrough finally came from the home team. A well-worked move off the top of a lineout in the oppositions 22 saw John Haffey take Richard Matchetts knock down and stroll in on the blindside.

With the Cavan players still looking bewildered the conversion was added. 7-0 to the home side. Now getting caught out once is understandable but twice from the exact same move is unforgivable and that’s how it transpired when Matchett and Haffey again combined off the top of a lineout for the latter to score unopposed. 14-0. With the forwards making all the hard yards the pacey backline was benefiting from quick ball and after some good hands Garth Durrans showed his searing pace, beating the drift defence to score under the posts. Converted 21-0. Despite the scoreline Cavan heads didn’t drop and they were just as physical from the restart, but inevitably when chasing a game holes are going to appear and Portadown got another try just before the break. Garth Durrans again showing the defence a clean pair of heels to grab his second of the day. 28-0 at the break.

The second half saw the introduction of club stalwart Graeme McCluskey for his first game of the season and he showed class is permanent, panicking the defence with some neat footwork every-time he got the ball. John Haffey too was a constant thorn in the side of the Cavan defence and he completed his hat trick with a well-taken score. 33-0. Not to be outdone however, flying winger Durrans (collecting a pass from Andy Gilpin at outside centre) turned on the gas once more to complete his hat-trick for the day and take his season tally into double figures. 40-0. Credit to Cavan they never stopped trying to play attacking rugby but the reunited centre partnership of John and Phelim Marrion were proving an insurmountable obstacle. But a score for the away team did come after a period of prolonged pressure and it was one of the few positives they could take from the game. 40-5. The Blues had one more score in them before the final whistle, veteran fullback Rab Gibson rolling back the years with a great step to leave the defence in his wake. A try a younger man would have been proud of. Final score 47-5. Another solid performance from the ever-improving 5XV. Cavan are semi-finalists in the McCambley Cup and Portadowns only viable opponents for second spot in the league which makes the manner of this victory all the more impressive. Best on the day were of course the hat-trick heroes Garth Durrans and John Haffey, but Richard Matchett too deserves praise for his great work in the pack.

Portadown 43 – 3 Armagh

It has been five long seasons since the Blues last celebrated victory over their
Armagh rivals, but a focused 5XV took to the field determined to stop the rot.

The Blues have been criticised for starting slowly this season but an Armagh team on
home turf is like a red rag to a bull for any Portadown side and from the first
whistle the pack set about dismantling their opponents. Camped inside the visitors
half it didn’t take long for the pumped up home team to register their first
score. Good rucking by the pack allowed quick ball for the backs to show some great
hands before releasing flying winger Garth Durrans to score in the corner.
Conversion added, 7-0. The Blues didn’t let up and the second score wasn’t long
in coming, and what a special score it was. Number eight Gary Holloway picking the
ball up from the base of the scrum on half way, selling an audacious dummy to break
the line before side-stepping the fullback to score under the posts, another case of
a forward thinking he’s a back. Conversion added 14-0. Having been on the
receiving end of many a heavy defeat to Armagh, Portadown sensed
revenge and a third score of the half was just reward for the teams overall work
ethic. Fullback Des Henderson picking up a wayward clearance to chip over the
onrushing defenders and gather the fortunate bounce to put the home side 19-0 to
the good. Armagh closed the half with an easy penalty to leave it 19-3 at the
break.

Captain Carey’s team-talk at half time made sure the Blues weren’t about to rest
on their laurels. The Blues smelt blood and were determined to go for the jugular,
and any Armagh hopes of getting back into the game were killed off by busy scrumhalf
John Haffey, outpacing the covering defenders to score in the corner. Converted
26-3. It has been a long time since the Blues were in a position like this against
Armagh and by the smiles on the players’ faces it was obvious they were enjoying
their dominance. The Blues didn’t let up and a rare Armagh attack was turned over,
allowing the impressive Garth Durrans to show his pace yet again, scorching through
the defence from his own 22 to register his second of the day. Converted 33-3.
Armagh were tiring with most of the game having been played in their half and
predictably they coughed up more scores as it neared fulltime. Evergreen centre John
Marrion selling his opposite number an exquisite dummy to
score from five yards out, justly deserved after another committed performance.
38-3. This game saw the return from injury of winger Lee Mustoe and he marked his
comeback with a try in the dying minutes, latching onto a floated pass to touchdown
in the corner. Final Score 43-3.

What a result for the 5XV, it has been a long barren spell for the Blues against
Armagh, which only made this win all the sweeter. A great team performance allied to
superb individual performances from Garth Durrans in the centre and Gary Holloway in
the pack means the Blues are challenging at the right end of the table, currently
sitting in second place. Allez Les Blues!!!!

Newry 6 – 7 Portadown

Many a Portadown side have floundered on the rock that is Newry’s mud bath of a
pitch but the 5XV were keen to complete the double over their Telford park rivals
having beaten them in the opening fixture of the season.

The going was predictably tough on the heavy pitch, with Newry getting to grips with
the conditions quicker than the visitors. Most of the first half play took place in
the Portadown 22 but wave after wave of Newry attack was repelled by an impressive
defence. Big front up tackles and turnovers at key moments made sure Newry didn’t
manage to cross the whitewash. A harsh penalty however allowed the home side to take
the minimum 3-0 lead into half time.

Some frank exchanges at the break left the Blues in no doubt as to what was needed
for the next forty minutes. Work-rate was key and Portadown needed to lift it.
Talking is all well and good but it took another penalty from Newry – which put them
into a 6-0 lead – to really spur the visitors into action. The pack are due immense
credit for getting to grips with the conditions and bringing the game to the home
side. Strong running from Ryan Hazley and Matt Graham gave Portadown momentum and
suddenly the backs were able to work off a solid platform of possession with Garth
Durrans and John Marrion punching holes every time they received the ball. The all-
important score was tantalisingly close but proving elusive, Alan Kilpatrick
thinking he had done enough only for the ref to deem it held up. From the resulting
play however big back row forward Gary Holloway powered over the line for the
crucial try. Converted, it put The Blues in the lead for the first
time in the match. 6-7. When trying to protect a lead, there’s no better man to
have in your side than John Marrion, putting his body on the line time and time
again to push Newry back. He was ably assisted by Garth Durrans in the centre and
Simon Carey in the pack as the Blues closed out the game. Final Score 6-7.

It was heartening to see the Blues come through such a tight game, especially in the
face of cry-offs and injuries. Key men on the day were Matt Graham and Gary Holloway
in the pack and John Marrion in the centre. Best wishes to Jonathan Richie who
damaged his shoulder during the game and faces a few weeks on the sidelines. Next up
for the Blues is a local derby grudge match against Armagh 3’s at home on Sat
20th.