Nutty Krust – Portadown Vs Armagh
Nutty Krust Tournament Portadown U18s v City of ArmaghRFC U18s Wednesday 28th February 2024.
The second of this season’s Nutty Krust group stage games got underway in the Nutty Krust U18 Tournament under the floodlights at a cool, and damp, Chambers Park when the Portadown RFC U18 team played the City of Armagh U18 team on Wednesday evening in the first of the Nutty Krust Group A games. A sizeable and very enthusiastic crowd had gathered to watch this entertaining Nutty Krust game, which Portadown won by 17-12, and which featured quite a few talented players on both teams.
Included among the spectators were Mark McBurney and Niall Chapman, respective current Presidents of Portadown RFC and City of Armagh RFC, and two men who have taken a great interest in age grade rugby in their clubs over many years.
The game was well refereed by Rory Stewart from the USRFR and the Nutty Krust organising committee is grateful to the USRFR for ensuring all the Nutty Krust games are refereed by members of the USRFR.
The Portadown team had built up a 7-0 lead, early in the first half, when clever work from Sean Peterson and Thomas Parks, paved the way for CJ Shannon to touch down for a try.John Speers added the extras to secure the 7-0 lead which was maintained until the interval.
Armagh started the second half strongly with players such as Nathan Heatrick, Andrew Larkin and Matthew De Plessis to the fore. The Armagh attack was held up just short of the whitewash on a number of occasions before strong Portadown defence, with Sean Peterson and John McQuitty leading the way, secured a vital turnover.
Matthew Dunlop and John McQuitty combined to exit with the ball and put play deep into Armagh territory. A loose ball came the way of Ethan Dickson who outpaced a despairing defence to touch down for an unconverted try and give his team a 12-0 lead.
Portadown then started to control both territory and possession and scored their third try of the game when Sean Peterson carried strongly off a steady scrum to run in for the try. John Speers added the conversion to see the Portadown team into a 17-0 lead.
Now it was the turn of the City of Armagh team to get some reward for their endeavours. Following the carry off a scrum in the Portadown 22m area, quick ruck ball was produced and Ben Harney took full advantage of a hesitant Portadown defence to touch down for a try. Thomas Donaldson added the conversion to reduce the Armagh deficit to 17-7.
The Armagh team seemed to sense they were in control of the game at this stage. Callum Robinson and Adam Kennedy carried strongly to put Ben Harney in for his second try of the evening. The try was unconverted but the scoreboard was now reading City of Armagh 12 Portadown 17.
With the last play of the game, one further Armagh attack was quelled by Sean Peterson and Jack Graham and, much to the relieve of the Portadown team, the referee blew the no-side whistle to ensure the Portadown U18 team had secured a hard=earned 17-12 victory at the end of this first Nutty Krust Group A game.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament, the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Flat Dogs Gourmet Food” Restaurant, and organised by Ryan, the Flat Dogs proprietor. Ryan was assisted by his Flat Dog colleagues, including his father, Tom, in serving the food. All the players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Mark McBurney, President of Portadown RFC, presented the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post-match ceremony. The Man of the Match Award went to Sean Peterson, the Portadown RFC U18 No 8.
The third of this season’s Nutty Krust Tournament games will be played on Wednesday 6th March when the Portadown RFC U18 team will play the Rainey Old Boys’ RFC U18 team at 7-45pm in the second of the Group A games.
All visitors and supporters to the game will be made to feel very welcome and are invited to use the Portadown RFC facilities before and after the game.
