Match Report

1st xv

Won 29-3. Good performance against a young and confident Limavady team played
on a wet and sticky pitch. Chris Cousens kicked an early penalty to put the blues 3-0
up, this was quickly followed by a try by No 8 Gareth McCoy who touched down
having shown some superb footballing skills, not unlike Jan Molby in his heyday.
Cousens hit a touch line conversion, 10-0 Ports. The Blues dominated possession
and territory but some superb Limavady defence kept the scoreline down. In fact it
was the home team who scored next, a penalty by their centre from his own half
leaving the score at 10-3. Ports registered another try just before halftime following
a great drive from an attacking line out, McCoy credited with the touchdown.
Cousens again converted to leave it at 17-3. The second half kicked off and was
much the same as the first, with Portadown attacking in wave after wave and the
home team defending resolutely. Winger Ryan Purvis was next to score in the corner
following good hands and phase play previously. Cousens narrowly missed the
conversion leaving the score line at 22-7. The Ports registered one last score before
the final whistle with McCoy completing his hat trick following a turnover scrum.
Cousens converted to leave the score at the final whistle at 29-3. Man of the match
was No 8 Gareth McCoy.

2
3s
Win
For
Portadown
2
Win
For Portadown
3s

nd
home
to
Innishowen
1s
who
arrived
started
at
the
Chambers
Park
and
Blues
found
themselves
defending
minutes
against
for
the
a
first
15
Portadown
barely
had
the
ball,
defence
but
showed
not
great
spirit
break
their
line.
get
their
hands
on
the
ball
up
the
gradually
pitch
to
made
ground
penalty,
the
Blues
at
this
stage
their
stamp
were
starting
on
the
match
to
put
turned
defence
into
attack
with
from
good
the
backs.
strong
running
try
of
the
match,
taking
ain
quick
match
tap
penalty
Mike
with
man
of
Busby
going
over.
and
dominate
lineout
which
continued
gave
the
to
backs
a
great
platform
Innishowen
further
tries
defence.
arrived
before
Two
halftime,
one
from
showing
in
the
corner,
great
Neil
hands
McCartney
to
cover
getting
other.
20
nil
up
at
half
time.
given
up
and
again
Portadowns
fore
with
defence
big
came
Jordan
Elliott
and
centre
Alan
Harra
Portadown,
in
particular.
though
scored
the
first
try
of
the
2
crossing.
Innishowen
hit
back
following
some
scrappy
ran
score
the
under
length
the
of
posts.
the
pitch
to
The
2
vein
with
Portadown
making
a
errors
couple
and
of
silly
handling
hook,
though
their
defence
managed
stop
the
travelling
to
get
back
team
and
again
with
some
superb
defence.
lineout
in
the
won
Innishowen
another
22,
allowed
advantage.
Portadown
Gribben
to
went
play
for
speculative
cross
near
way,
where
didnt
it
was
go
meant
anywhere
to
go.
The
stopped
would
blow
assuming
for
penalty
referee
as
there
couldnt
this
McCartney
didnt
stop
who
Neil
dived
between
2
his
legs
to
score
his
defence
bewildered.
over
for
their
forwards
6
to
smash
try
of
the
afternoon
with
just
before
the
final
whistle.
impressive
from
1hits
in
15
and
also
on
all
making
the
3
a
subs
big
coming
firm
when
required,
the
set
pieces
back
line
dominated
ran
great
and
the
attack
and
Jordan
Elliott
defence
forwards.
stood
Mike
Busby
the
was
the
stand
out
player
in
Neil
backs,
McCartney
2
tries
conversions
Mike
Busby
1
1
try
try
Rab
McClean
1
try
1s
nd
home
arrived
to
at
Innishowen
Chambers
1s
Park
who
and
started
the
Blues
defending
found
for
themselves
the
first
15
minutes
against
a
Portadown
ball,
but
showed
barely
great
had
the
spirit
in
defence
not
break
their
line.
get
and
their
gradually
hands
made
on
the
ground
ball
up
the
pitch
to
penalty,
stage
were
the
starting
Blues
at
to
this
put
their
stamp
on
match
turned
with
good
defence
strong
into
running
attack
from
the
backs.
try
quick
of
tap
the
penalty
match,
taking
with
man
ain
of
Busby
match
going
Mike
over.
lineout
continued
to
dominate
backs
a
great
which
platform
gave
the
Innishowen
defence.
Two
further
halftime,
tries
one
arrived
from
before
showing
great
hands
to
cover
getting
the
corner,
Neil
McCartney
other.
20
nil
up
at
half
time.
given
Portadowns
up
and
defence
again
came
fore
with
big
Jordan
Harra
in
Elliott
particular.
and
centre
Alan
Portadown,
first
try
though
of
the
2
scored
crossing.
following
Innishowen
some
scrappy
hit
back
ran
the
length
of
the
pitch
to
score
The
2
under
the
posts.
vein
a
couple
with
of
Portadown
silly
handling
making
errors
and
hook,
managed
though
to
get
their
back
defence
and
stop
the
travelling
team
again
defence.
with
some
superb
won
another
lineout
in
the
Innishowen
22,
allowed
Portadown
to
play
advantage.
speculative
Gribben
cross
went
for
way,
didnt
go
anywhere
near
go.
The
where
it
was
meant
to
stopped
assuming
referee
would
there
couldnt
blow
for
the
penalty
as
this
didnt
stop
Neil
McCartney
between
his
who
legs
dived
to
score
his
2
the
defence
bewildered.
forwards
to
smash
over
for
their
6
try
of
the
afternoon
with
just
before
the
final
whistle.
impressive
also
the
from
3
subs
1hits
in
15
coming
and
on
all
making
a
big
firm
pieces
when
dominated
required,
and
the
the
set
back
line
ran
great
attack
defence
and
stood
Jordan
Elliott
the
forwards.
Mike
Busby
was
backs,
the
stand
out
player
in
Neil
McCartney
2
tries
conversions
Mike
Busby
1
try
Rab
McClean
1
1
try
try
1s
nd
th
nd
thnd Round Foster Cup Win For Portadown 3s
2

Portadown 3s were drawn at home to Innishowen 1s who arrived at Chambers Park and
started the better of the two teams. The Blues found themselves defending for the first
15 minutes against a determined Innishowen side. Portadown barely had the ball, but
showed great spirit in defence not allowing the travelling side to break their line.
Eventually the home side did get their hands on the ball and gradually made ground up
the pitch to register a Barry Gribben penalty, the Blues at this stage were starting to put
their stamp on the match and with the better set pieces turned defence into attack with
good strong running from the backs. Portadown scored their first try of the match, taking
a quick tap penalty with man of the match Mike Busby going over.
Portadowns superior scrum and lineout continued to dominate which gave the backs a
great platform to get in behind a determined Innishowen defence. Two further tries
arrived before halftime, one from tight head prop Rab McClean showing great hands to
cover in the corner, Neil McCartney getting the other. 20 nil up at half time.
Innishowen though had not given up and again Portadowns defence came to the fore
with big hits coming in from backrow Jordan Elliott and centre Alan Harra in particular.
Portadown, though scored the first try of the 2nd half with Niall Davidson crossing.
Innishowen hit back following some scrappy play from the home side and ran the length
of the pitch to score under the posts.

The 2nd half continued in the same vein with Portadown making a couple of silly handling
errors and letting Innishowen off the hook, though their defence managed to get back
and stop the travelling team registering any further points again with some superb
defence.
A bizarre try followed when Portadown won another lineout in the Innishowen 22, the
defence infringed, but the referee allowed Portadown to play advantage. Gribben went
for the speculative cross field kick which, lets put it this way, didnt go anywhere near
where it was meant to go. The Innishowen winger just stopped assuming the referee
would blow for the penalty as there couldnt possibly any advantage, but this didnt stop
Neil McCartney who dived between his legs to score his 2nd try of the afternoon leaving
the defence bewildered.
Late pressure allowed the Portadown forwards to smash over for their 6 th try of the
afternoon with Jordan Elliott claiming the try just before the final whistle.
The home side were impressive from 1 15 and also with the 3 subs coming on all
making a big impact. The defence stood firm when required, the set pieces dominated
and the back line ran great lines. Peter Keightley in attack and Jordan Elliott in defence
stood out in the forwards. Mike Busby who got man of the match was the stand out
player in the backs,

Neil McCartney 2 tries

Niall Davidson 1 try, 2 conversions
Barry Gribben 1 penalty, 2 conversions
Mike Busby 1 try
Jordan Elliott 1 try
Rab McClean 1 try

Prfc4xv 15-17 Belfast Harlequins 4xv

With fellow minor league opponents, harlequins at a sodden chambers park the butler shield campaign
ended in defeat for the blues. Both teams playing running rugby. But a terrific team effort saw a line out
turned to rolling maul before a break away from Andrew Bonis finished strongly under pressure from
multiple tacklers. Matthews with the extras. 7-0.
Quinn's regrouped and some slack defending allowed Quinn's 13 too much room. After recycling the ball
Quinn's went over in the corner, missing the conversion. 7-5.
The blue response drew in the Quinn's defensive resulting in a Matthews penalty. 10-5
More to and fro from both teams. Some wonderful running from the centres, Kenny Anderson and John
McKeever putting Quinn's on the back foot. Sam Girvan providing quick ball at the base of the pack for the
constant blue pressure. After several phases of play through Bonis and his back row partners the ball was
fed through the hands and Kenny Anderson went over in the corner, no conversion 15-5.
The blue pack was clearly on top, Andy Gilpin, William Craig and Sam Close providing the stable platform
at the set peice plus their strong running. Brian Milligan, Billy Newell and Caleb Montgomery challenging
every ruck and maul. Special mention to Christopher Breen making his senior rugby Debut smashing
tackles and never once taking a backwards step all afternoon.
The blues tails were up, Craig McCann and Steven Wilson chasing every ball and tackle. Quinn's best
player by far, their 13 was a constant threat and once more before half time his strong running breaking
tackles before dotting down under the posts plus conversion. 15-12 at the half.
Due to a number of concerns, the blues made a few changes. Johnny Leckey on for Brian Milligan in the
row.

Perhaps the Quinn's score at the half or the changes to personnel caused a slow start to the second half
for the blues. But Quinn's started much faster. A rare Portadown penalty was narrowly missed and very
shortly after the Quinn's 13 finished his day with another try. 15-17.
Portadown rose and camped in the Quinn's half for the remainder of the game. Some questionable
decisions allowed Quinn's to hold the blues at bay and the score line remained unchanged.
Scorers
Bonis -5 (try)
Anderson -5 (try)
Matthews -5 (pen, conv)
Man of the Match
Andrew Bonis

Portadown 3s 41 7 Innishowen 1s