1st v Omagh Report

Omagh arrived with some good results behind them and wanting to upset Portadown at home. With
players away and injured Portadown were relying on the hard work of their extended squad come
through and get the desired result.
From the start Omagh showed their hand with some quick back play opening the Portadown defence.
But it was Portadown forward power that gained the first points forcing Omagh into a penalty on their
own 22m.Chris Cousins converted the penalty for a 3 nil lead. Now had the upper hand and worked
Omaghs defence hard. Another penalty to Portadown gave them a 6 nil lead at half time.
In the second half Omagh came out full of new enthusiasm and caught the Portadown defence napping.
The converted try gave Omagh the lead at 7 points to 6. The game then became interesting with Omagh
backs and support play forcing the Ports defence to scramble every time.
As the game went on the bigger pack of Portadown began to sap the Omagh energy and the Portadown
backs began to force ground in the mid field and out wide. After some great work on the Omagh line Dan
Tully squeezed over for a try converted by Chris Cousins. This made the score 13 point to 6 for
Portadown.
The ports kept the pressure up and should have had another try but were made to fumble before the line.
But hey pushed again and again before being paid off with another try form Jack Orr who outpaced the
cover to score on the corner. The conversion from Cousin sailed close to the pot but not over. The score
was 18 6 in the ports favour and looked safe.
But Omagh made a late charge and won enough ball in phases to get theirs backs into the game and get
the bonus point score they needed. A penalty form Omagh left the last minutes tight but Portadown held
out
to
win
18
points
to
14
and
get
the
four
points
they
needed.
On hearing Bangor had lost the league was now wide open again with Portadown sitting in 3 rd place with a
game in hand on 1st and 2nd.
PORTDADOWN 2NDS
Portadown 2nds were at home on Saturday for a top of the table clash with Ballymoney 2nds. Both teams went
into the match unbeaten. Portadown came out on top with a bonus point victory winning the match 39 - 27.
Captain Danny Alexander stressed the importance of starting the match strongly, Portadown didn't disappoint
and started to attack straight from the first whistle. Portadown's first score came from a driving maul from a line
out with Robert Dougan controlling the ball at the back and getting over the line in the corner for his score. The
backs stepped up for the next score with Ollie Montels controlling the shots at outhalf and David Whitten
making great ground through the centre. Calvin Chambers soon got over for the first of his three tries. David
Whitten then slotted a penalty. More strong running from the backs was finished by Rory Quinn taking a great
line to crash over for Portadown's next try. Ballymoney hit back before half time with a try to leave the half time
score 22 - 5. Portadown went to sleep a little after the break and let Ballymoney in for another try. This was a
wake up call for the team who soon hit back with Calvin Chambers showing great pace on the wing to score two
quick tries to give him his hat trick and Portadown a bonus point. Rory Quinn then followed up with his second
try which David Whitten converted. Portadown slacked off a little and let Ballymoney in for a few late scores
but job done. David Whitten was awarded man of the match and special mention to Kieran Gribben and Gareth
Hutton who came off the bench to make their seconds debut.

Strong performance and good win For Portadown against Ballymena

4s
Portadown 3rds travelled to Ballymena for their 3rd game of the season and left with a bonus point win. It was a
great day for running rugby and Portadown made the most of the good conditions with 6 tries in total scored by
two backs, 4 from Davy Harper on his return from a long lay off from rugby and 2 from scrum half Jonny
McAfee. Ever present number 10 Stan Hamilton kicking 3 conversions.
Portadown soaked up some early Ballymena pressure and starting moving their big pack around the field and

soon worked out that the best way to attack their hosts was through their strong running back line. The 2 centres,
Davy Harper and Andrew Laverty finding a lot of space in particular.
Good set pieces from the blues forwards provided the back line a good platform to mount attacks from all over
the pitch with 3 tries being score in the first half.
Though Ballymena started the 2nd half brightly with Portadown conceding either side of half time, the 3rds again
upped it a gear and were never in danger of letting Ballymena back into the match.
McAfee scored his 2nd with another trade mark dummy NFL pass that sent most of the Ballymena and some of
his own team mates the wrong way.
Davy Harper stood out with his 4 tries and each time he got the ball made inroads into the Ballymena defence.
Also special mention to David Cornett who deputised as a tight head prop and may have just found his new
position.
Final score 36 - 17