Match Reports 25.3.23

Match Report

Portadown RFC vs Larne RFC

Saturday 25th March 2023

Portadown hosted Larne on Saturday past in the next round of the Junior Plate.

Portadown started well with wing Joe Orr going over for his first of the game. 

Portadown scored two further tries in the first half with centre Tom Caesar and wing Charlie Logan going over to make the score 19 – 0. And that’s how the first half ended.

Portadown knew then needed to uk the pressure to make the game safe. They managed that scoring 6 tries in the second half to confirm victory. Joe Orr got another two scored to give him a hatrick on the day. The same goes for Tom Caesar who also got a hatrick. Jordan Robb also crossed and wing Charlie Logan got another with the score finishing at 57 – 0.

Portadown’s win confirmed them as group winners and also confirmed a place in the semi final of the Junior plate on the 22nd April.

Upcoming Fixtures and Academy Matches

Portadown host the East Side Banshees from Minnesota USA on Friday 31st March. Kick off at Chambers Park 7:30pm.

Portadown 3s Lost their semi final of the McCambley Cup match to a strong Ballynahinch team.  They fought hard the first half and were down by 7 points at the break.

Int the second half they score a try and a penalty but still went down 29 point to 8. Next up for the 3s is the semi final of the Ravenhill Cup and the remaining fixtures in their league that they currently lead.

The Academy played a friendly match for the start of the club school window. This is an imitative for the club and the College players top come together and play under the club colours. The scheme set up by the branch is to allow school players an introduction into the club game.

A Portadown select played a touring American team form Yale during the week. A number of new freindships were established by players and both clubs. This Friday night sees another american touring side playing at Portadown . The incoming side are from Minnisoda.

Final of Ulster Schools High Schools Trophy

 

On Wednesday the 22nd March, Craigavon Senior High School travelled to the Kingspan Stadium to take on Ballymoney High School in the final of the U16 High Schools Trophy. 

The two sides had previously met in the semi-final of the Pollock Cup in a tightly contested game where the Senior High won 26-19. Going into the game as favourites, the Senior High had to cope with the losses of Captain and Centre Ted McQuitty, Fullback Dylan Adamson and Utility Back Hayden Smyth prior to the game through injury/illness. The team were under no illusions that this would be a tight contest. 

The Senior High kicked off towards the Aquinas end and immediately stamped their authority on the game. They camped Ballymoney in their own 22 for the opening 10 minutes and the pressure eventually told. After several phases, out-half Samuel Ruddell released Captain James Beattie into open space before setting up Bailey Lappin to run in a fantastic opening score. 

It wasn’t long after the restart that a fantastic counterattack from Craigavon in their own 22 released speedster Ben Robinson down the left-hand side for a sprint finish for the try line. A fantastic cover tackle from the Ballymoney centre caused Robinson to knock on just before the try line. This proved to be Robinsons last involvement in the match damaging his collar bone and leaving the field.  A few minutes later Craigavon had their second try. A well worked backline move saw centre Matthew Givan sidestep his way through the defence to score just to the right of the posts.  

Using the wind to their advantage in the second half, out-half Samuel Ruddell pinned the opposition into their own 22. After telling pressure, Craigavon were awarded a penalty a few metres out. A tap penalty move straight off the training paddock was used to allow Captain James Beattie to crash over from close range to the elation of the coaching staff.   

The Fourth try came a few minutes later. Great interplay between backs and forwards released wing Jacob Farr on an incredible run, side stepping and cutting through countless defenders. A few phases later after some industrial work by the forwards it was James Beattie who barged over for his second try. 

The Senior Highs pack were showing great dominance at the lineout, particularly their attacking maul. A rumbling maul set up just inside the Ballymoney half rolled its way close to the try line before collapsing. Ballymoney’s Second Row received a yellow card for collapsing the maul. From the resulting penalty the forwards recycled the ball well before influential no. 8 Alfie Thornton crashed over from close range to score.  Replacement Second Row Aaron Conn rounded off the scoring 5 minutes from the end gathering a loose lineout throw and powering his way over from close range for his teams sixth and final try. 

Out-half Samuel Ruddell received the Player of the Match award for playing a pivotal role in marshalling his team and was influential in setting up several pivotal scores. 

The sound of the final whistle brought to close an emphatic 30-0 win for the Senior High who celebrated in front of a large travelling support of students, staff, friends, and family. Captains James Beattie and Ted McQuitty shared the lifting of the trophy which capped off a wonderful occasion for the school. To have completed the “double” this year was a special moment for the players and coaching staff who played a real enterprising brand of rugby. With a large portion of the team returning to defend both titles next year, promising times are ahead.