Match Reports-17th September 2022

Portadown RFC 1st XV vs Larne RFC 1st XV
Saturday 17th September 2022

Portadown hosted Larne on Saturday for their second home league game of the season.

The game started with Portadown applying pressure and a great solo try by out-half Michael Orr gave Portadown an early 5-0 lead. The fry was converted by Matty Neill. 7-0. Further pressure way portadown score 2 more first half tries through centres Brandon Gribben and Marshall Clint. 19-0 at half time.

Portadown started the second half hunting for another score to secure their bonus point, but it was Larne who struck first with a well worked try under the posts. Portadown responded immediately with wing Tom Caesar scoring in the corner. Another try by centre Marshall Clint brought Portadown even further ahead.

2 more scores before the end by Jonathon ‘Elvis’ Reid and Charlie Logan seen Portadown finish the game off.

Final score Portadown 41 – Larne 7.

Portadown travel to Donaghadee this Saturday. Kickoff at 2:30pm.

City of Derry RFC 2nd XV vs Portadown RFC 2nd XV
Saturday 17th September 2022

On Saturday the 2nd XV travelled to City of Derry for the first away game of the season.
Early on it was very evenly matched game with Toby Gribben kicking a penalty to leave the Ports trailing 5-3 at the break.
The second half, sadly, was a different story as the opportunistic City of Derry took their chances to extend their lead to 31-3.
The boys in blue fought hard right to the end and did themselves proud with a well deserved scored at the end. Toby Gribben getting over the line after some excellent hands and patient build up play.
Final score 31-8.
This Saturday the seconds are at home to Omagh 3rd XV, all welcome.

 

Portadown RFC 3rd XV vs Virginia 1st XV

Portadown 3rds started the season with a home fixture against Virginia 2 at Chambers Park. Fielding a excellent mix of youth and experience Portadown started well. Early pressure was rewarded when David Whitten with wild pace smoked the centre breaking the line only to kick inside to the support of Hampton who gathered it crossing the line only to forget to ground it but quick thinking Rocky took it off him to score the 1st try. Ashton was unsuccessful with the conversion

Virginia would not be broken so easily though and responded with two well taken opportunistic tries to lead 14-5.

This seemed to wake Ports up as first, Jonny Hampton gave Dylan Marshall the ball from a ruck and he burst through defence and scored from 5 metre line. Closely followed by Jack Dang showing quick footwork to claim another try. Both converted by Ashton and then Whitten.

Just before half time, great work from Rocky again to put Garth Durrans (Durnsy) into space with a bit of work to do beating two defenders on the outside and diving in at the corner. Half time Portadown 24-14 Virginia

Portadown started the second half determined to show a bit more control and acurracy and it wasn’t long before the oldest player on the pitch recieved dodgy pass in the 22 and with the 6 foot 6 number 8 was flying across, the PK dummy was used, leaving the opponent on the cricket pitch whilst PK ended up under the posts!!!! Converted by Ashton

PK’s quickly followed this with a second try from the opposition line out. The pass down to the scrum half, was not claimed as he saw the lean 40 year old coming through from the line, the ball hit the ground, PK managed to collect the ball….the work wasn’t over at that point, He ran through to meet the number 15, although he had a player outside him the fantastic PK dummy came in use once again, he bought it that badly he was seen crying under the posts after PK scored FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE GAME. Converted by Ashton

This seemed to break Virginia as they scored 4 more unanswered tries. Firstly, some smart thinking from J Hampton as he took a quick tap and go before diving over for a well deserved try. A clean break by captain Luke Ashton who offloaded to set Neil Macartney up for a walk-in under the posts. Macartney scored a second try as a quick pass off a ruck on the blindside from Hampton and some blistering pace to finish it under the posts. 2 converted by Ashton

Not to be beaten to the hattrick by PK Macartney took a great supporting line off Captain Luke Ashton after another super break up the field to receive another offload for another walk in under the posts. Converted by Ashton.

Virginia fought on and claimed a 3rd try off a set piece move in the last play of the game.

Full Time Portadown 64-19 Virginia
Tries- D Whitten, D Marshall, G Durrans
P. Keithley 2, J Hampton, N Macartney 3,
J Dang

Conversions- Ashton 6, Whitten 1