Clogher made to battle all the way as they make it six in a row
Cooke 1st XV 15 Clogher Valley 1st XV 22
CLOGHER VALLEY were under no illusions as they travelled to Cooke on Saturday that this was going to be the toughest encounter to date.
As a result of the Valley defeating Ballyclare the previous weekend Cooke were now in second place so for successive Saturdays it was a first against second affair.
After a minutes silence in respect of those who were tragically killed in the Creeslough explosion the game kicked off.
It was a glorious autumnal day but alas not a day for ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’ though.
This was as tough and full bloodied encounter that the Valley had been involved in for some time.
Going down to the wire the visitors emerged with all five points but could not have complained had Cooke earned a draw which looked likely in the last quarter.
Cooke opened up on the front foot pressing in the Valley 22 metre area.
An attempted intercept was adjudged a deliberate knock on and Skipper Armstrong spent the next ten in the bin.
The visitors settled and after a scrum penalty Maxwell sent them deep into the Cooke 22’ metre area.
A well-executed lineout and several pick and goes before Maxwell sent a long pass out to Taine Haire on the wing who raced in for the opening try.
Maxwell was unlucky to see the touchline conversion come back of the upright.
The Valley played some lovely sweeping rugby at times and were very unlucky not to have gone further ahead after one such move but a chasing defender managed to halt the progress.
Another scrum penalty and the visitors were encamped on the Cooke line.
A knock on gave Cooke a five metre scrum. As their scrum went backwards the Cooke No 8 picked up only to be snared by Callum Smyton.
Stinson ripped the ball off him to dive over for the Valley’s third try. Unconverted but the Valley were 10 points to the good.
Cooke converted a penalty but the visitors were soon on the ascendancy.
Again it was the scrum that created the next opportunity. Callum Smyton came off the back of an advancing scrum and barged over for the third try which was converted by Maxwell.
Up by 14 points at the break was a reasonable reflection on the first half proceedings.
Clogher usually press on in the second half but not to be on this occasion. An intercept try which was converted saw the home side reduce the arrears to seven points early doors in the second period.
Clogher responded almost immediately.
An attack from deep took play almost the length of the pitch, several strong carries by the pack made great ground before Maxwell again found Haire, the younger, with an incredible pass and he crossed the whitewash for his second of the day.
The touchline conversion drifted narrowly wide.
Cooke though marshalled by their big tight head prop would go on to dominate in possession and territory for long periods.
The Valley did create opportunities but in general the half belonged to Cooke.
A well worked lineout routine saw their talisman prop crash over for their second try which went unconverted.
Cooke continued to press and had two huge calls for tries as the half progressed.
Their fullback looked certain to score in an incisive break but thanks to tremendous cover by Ewan Haire and an honest Cooke touch judge he was deemed to have a foot in touch.
They continued to press with their pack taking the direct route but a tremendous defensive effort kept them at bay.
It did seem they had crossed on one occasion, but the official ruled it was grounded short.
The Valley would break out and play some enterprising rugby but inevitably Cooke would return to the offensive.
Try as they did Cooke couldn’t breach the highly organised Valley defence again and the visitors held out for this hard-earned victory.
The result means that Clogher remain five points clear of Ballyclare at the top of the Championship Division One table with Cooke now a further four points adrift.
Next up for Clogher is a meeting with City of Derry at the Cran on Saturday in another important league game.
Kick off is at 2.30pm and a large crowd would be appreciated as the home side hope to maintain their perfect start to the season.