Match Reports- 19th November 2022

Portadown RFC vs Ards RFC

Saturday 19th November 2022
Portadown started the game brightly and an early penalty by Matty Neill gave them an early 3 point lead.
Some good play by both forwards and backs allowed Willie Graham to get over from short distance. The score was now 10-0. Shortly before the half Ards kicked a penalty but Portadown scored again twice with winger Charlie Logan getting over for both. The score was 24-3 at the half.
The game was tight at the start of the second half with both teams playing for territory. Portadown soon took advantage of their pressure with centre Marshall Clint crossing. The score was now 29-3. Logan got in for his hattrick shortly before the end and Ards grand a try before the final whistle to make it 36-10 to Portadown.

Portadown host Dromore RFC next week in the cup, kick off at 2:30pm.

Portadown 3s made the trip to Enniskillen aiming to complete a clean sweep of bonus point victories to close Phase 1 of the season.
The match started well as after collecting the opening kick-off Diarmuid O’Kane turned from poacher to provider following a few phases of play. Draw and give out wide for Mccullough to collect the ball and opposition winger to fall over the line. 0-5. 2 further scores came in quick succession, both courtesy of the ever youthful Dermy O’Kane.
0-15 The bonus point try came shortly after. With the Enniskillen back line repeatedly testing the offside line, Captain Ashton decided to break out the now famous PK dummy to open up a clean run to the line. 0-22
Not to be outdone, Dermy completed his hat trick with another try from short range after multiple attacks were repelled by a spirited Skins defence. Enniskillen did claim a try of their own to reduce the deficit but finishing the scoring for the first half was a lightening quick break for David Whitten.
Half time 5-34
Straight after the restart Portadown  gathered the ball and proceeded with a strong drive into the Enniskillen half and with great inter play between forwards and backs they made it into the  22 meter area. A quick call was made by Kelly who passed the ball to Neil Macartney who split the skins defence with some blistering pace to score under the posts.
A quick 2nd try for Neil MacCartney, it came after a great turn over by Neil himself to win a penalty from which a quick tapped ball by Jonny Hampton. Jonny broke down the pitch before passing it onto a Portadown forward who was tackled. A quick pass from the ruck to Neil MacCartney who use his pace to break the line again. However there wasn’t much left in the tank for Neil after the earlier run. He had to hand off several Enniskillen players to go over the line under the posts. A second try for Rocky Whitten, a well-deserved try for Frankie Gibson all added to the score before Luke Ashton completed the scoring with a 80m effort to leave the score 5-65. This meant the League was secured by the Portadown 3s before the December deadline.

Academy Results

Portadown Under 18s entertained a combined team of Clogher valley & Cavan in the provincial league on Saturday. Fielding fourteen players due to a number of late cry offs, a spirited and determined performance by the home side saw them go down 42-8. Portadown’s points came from a very well deserved try and penalty from captain David Collins. The young team
have been improving every week with standout performances in the pack by Paul Antu and Ed Davies giving the team a real boost.

With Cavan Under 16s having toppled the high-flying City of Armagh two weeks previous, they arrived at Chambers Park with a confidence that beating the league leaders will give a young team.
The Academy u16s though, were themselves on an impressive run of form, having beaten much fancied Banbridge in their previous fixture along with Virginia two weeks previous. Indeed, the Portadown side started this game as they finished their last, with lock ReeceUpton driving over to open the scoring after five minutes. Cavan, had no answer to the pace and power, coupled with the attacking framework of the Portadown side, and another try quickly followed. This time it came from the impressive Dylan Adamson, who having collected the ball in his own 22’, ran around five would be tacklers on his way up the pitch
on a searing run to the line. Out half Sam Ruddell, added to the try count with a superbly executed tap and go, and with Cavan not alert, he raced in from the half way line to score. Centre Ted McQuitty, who went on to
have one of his best performances to date in the Blue jersey, followed up with the games fourth try, with another try starting in the 22’, he shrugged off three would be tacklers on his way to the line.
Half Time Portadown 26 – 0 Cavan
The second half started like the first ended, with McQuitty once again, proving far to fast and strong for the Cavan backs to power over in the corner for a try superbly converted by Dylan Adamson. Adamson is proving to be an exceptional kicker off the tee, and proved it with four conversions on the day, none of which were easy. With the game in danger of
being conceded by Cavan, Portadown brought on the subs bench, allowing some exciting talent thereon to get some valuable game time. Cavan, who had several Ulster RDS players in their ranks, scored through one of them, when their impressive centre scored out wide.
Diogo Gomes though, replied for Portadown, before a final score on the whistle by Cavan to leave the final score Full Time Portadown 38 – 14 Cavan. The young Academy side now sit second in the table and host Monaghan in their next fixture in two weeks time.