Valley move clear with four games to go
Editorial Department • Published 16 Feb 2012 13:00
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Clogher Valley 13; Cooke 6;
The joint leaders of Kukri Qualifying One came head to head at The Cran and served up a match of high quality and intensity to keep the large crowd entertained right to the final whistle with Clogher Valley emerging deserved winners to move clear at the top of the league.
Clogher Valley scored the only try of the match, but Cooke will be happy to claim another important losing bonus point which keeps them within four points of the leaders.
Indeed, with arguably an easier run in, and 11 bonus points from 14 games (compared to Clogher Valley's six), the Belfast side appear to be favourites to go into the All-Ireland play-offs.
The early exchanges set the tone for the rest of the match with both defences being tested and some crunching hits going in. After the early sparring, Valley had an opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the tenth minute. Andy Breen made the initial break and Rodney Bennett carried the move on. When he was brought to ground Cooke were penalised at the breakdown but Philip Holme's attempt was off target.
Two minutes later another attempt shaved the right-hand post. The Valley forwards were now in the ascendancy and continued to batter a resolute and sound Cooke defence. Philip Falconer broke through in midfield and moved the ball left. Prop Philip Moore was taken down short of the line and Conductor-in-chief James Bates popped to Valley's other mobile prop Rodney Bennett, who in turn was dragged down in the shadow of the Cooke posts. Quick ball was moved out right by Bates and Holme to David Dunlop. With Cooke running out of defenders, Dunlop stepped inside the covering tackler to cross for a well-worked try. Holme added the points for a deserved 7-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Cooke then lost influential full back Cartmill with a hip injury and was replaced by Stewart. Falconer and Bennett were making ground for Valley every time they got the ball and from a Falconer surge Cook were penalised at the break-down. Holme kicked to the corner and when Sharkey claimed the lineout the Valley pack trundled towards the Cooke line. Once again the Cooke pack infringed and with the penalty already awarded, Holme put a sweetly struck drop goal between the posts to extend the lead to 10-0 in the 25th minute.
Three minutes later Murphy got the visitors on the scoreboard with a drop-goal of his own in a rare visit to the Valley 22.
Another Falconer break brought play into the Cooke half and a crunching tackle by Wayne Lyons brought about another Valley penalty. Holme stretched the Valley lead to 13-3.
Cooke made another incursion into Valley territory but a late tackle on Holme allowed Valley to reach half time with a comfortable lead.
As to be expected, Cooke came out all guns firing in the second half to try to get back into the game. They enjoyed their best period of possession and territory but the Valley defence was sound. Cooke spurned a kickable penalty in favour of a greater return with a lineout take and drive but Valley Skipper David Sharkey stole the Cooke throw and the danger was cleared.
The visitors continued to press and were rewarded when Murphy kicked a penalty to narrow the gap to 13-6 ten minutes into the second period.
However, that was to be the last score of the game and for the remaining half hour Valley kept Cooke in their own half and looked most likely to score but for the excellent Cooke defence.
Holme had another opportunity to stretch the Valley lead and deny Cooke the bonus point but once again saw his attempt drift wide. The game ended with Valley on the attack and Cooke fighting tooth and nail to keep their line intact. While all of the forwards played well, Steven Baxter came in for his first game for the firsts and edged the man-of-the-match award for an impressive display at openside.
Valley travel to Donaghadee on Saturday for the first of back to back matches.T he first one in the League and the following Saturday at The Cran in the Towns Cup.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 16 Feb 12
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