1st xv Match Report vs Grosvenor (A)
Saturday 18th January 2025
Grosvenor v Portadown
Portadown travelled away from home to face a determined Grosvenor side. Portadown kicked off and Grosvenor held onto possession for a few phases but failed to make any ground with strong tackles coming in from the Portadown men. The strong defence forced Grosvenor to knock the ball on giving Portadown the scrum. From the scrum the backs took the ball out to one side followed by Andrew Morrison putting in a cross field kick for Marshall Clint to chase down. The defender tackled Marshall but he managed to get the ball over the line to open up the scoring. Niall Davison converted to make the score 0-7. Grosvenor responded straight away and won a penalty just on the half way line. They kicked deep into the Portadown half and set up for a maul. Portadown stopped the rolling maul but Grosvenor brought the ball out wide and then back again to stretch the defence. Grosvenor scored in the corner to bring the scores to 5-7. This lifted Grosvenor spirits and they started holding onto more possession and putting Portadown defence under pressure. Portadown were forced to give away a penalty just in front of their own posts. Grosvenor kicked for the posts to take the lead 8-7. It was then Portadown’s turn to climb back into the game and challenge Grosvenor’s defence. They eventually gave away a penalty and Niall Davison stepped up and took the 3 points on offer to give the lead back to Portadown 8-10. Just before the stroke of half time Portadown once again were awarded a penalty but Niall just missed and the referee blew his whistle for the end of the first half.
Grosvenor came out the blocks flying at the start if the second half. They kicked the ball deep down field. Niall Davison chased it down but was tackled over his own line to give Grosvenor the 5m scrum. Grosvenor picked from the scrum and the number 8 popped to the centre who crashed over the try line from short range 15-10. Portadown responded quickly and after some fast hands from the backs it was young winger Carter Thompsons turn to go under the posts. Niall Davison converted to put Portadown ahead once again 15-17. Whilst Grosvenor’s backs were against the wall Portadown were putting the defence under pressure once again. Grosvenor gave away another penalty and Niall Davison again stepped up and extends Portadown’s lead to 15-20. Portadown once again were making good ground up the pitch and even looked like scoring again to secure the win but a wide pass was intercepted and Grosvenor ran the ball right under the posts with only minutes left to play 22-20. Portadown only had minutes left try and get the lead back before full time. Grosvenor’s defence held up well but all the pressure was to much and Portadown stretched them once again for the backs to get the ball to John McQuitty in space to secure the win. Niall Davison converted to make the final score 22-27 in Portadowns favour.
Niall Davison was awarded man of the match and had this to say at full time:
“Good to get a win today against a determined Grosvenor team. Forwards provided a great platform for us to attack today and luckily we came out the right side of another high scoring entertaining game”.
