The Front Row Union Sport - Championship 1: CIYMS 15 Clogher Valley 42

We’ve been hearing about this Clogher Valley side throughout the season so we sent Cyril Boyd along to Belmont to see how they stacked up against CIYMS on Saturday afternoon.

In a fast open game, both teams had chances but it was the visitors who dominated with their pack especially in fine form. First half tries by Robbie Mills, Callum Smyton and Stephen Bothwell all successfully converted by Ewan Haire stacked up well against a lone penalty by CI’s Michael Lawton and gave the visitors a halftime lead of 21 points to 3.

Michael Lawton tees up a first half penalty for CIYMS

Second half saw more dominance by Clogher Valley whose great team work put Haire in at the posts for a try which he converted, this was shortly followed by the home team driving over with Andrew McKee touching down for a try, converted Lawton.

Clogher Valley’s Ewan Haire touches down for his first try of the game.

With CIYMS now pressing hard, a great interception and run in try, and conversion, by Clogher’s Haire, set the visitors back on track. Their lead was further extended when Bothwell chased down a kick ahead for his second try, ably converted by Haire again.

A final home try by Peter Raine showed that CIYMS were not giving up but it was too little, too late and in the end the visitors deserved their win.