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Portadown 4th XV 17

Having shipped about 80 points in our last two games against this team, admittedly with half a team out, it was with some trepidation that we took them on at fortress Deramore.

Given the selectorial mayhem of the week, we were now officially known as the revolting 5s.

With the Raven and Wally returning from their winter breaks the mighty 5s were almost looking like themselves for the first time since October. Not to break with tradition however the Portadown number 8 broke free to score within 5 minutes. Their initial onslaught was pretty fierce and several of the 5s looked shellshocked.

With old faithful Cooper and Stevie Uprichard working well in the lineout however we did weather the storm and start to exert some pressure of our own. Within 10 minutes we were level when a pretty innocuous looking back move ended up with Angus Mills leaving his opposite number on his arse with a shimmy that resembled Ben Cohens last year against Ulster. Roger added the points 7-7.

The match had one feature strange to this level, three qualified refs, two acting as touch judges. One would have assumed that this may have been a benefit when the ref was unsighted and missed Chicks try from a lineout and drive. The touch judge and almost everyone else in the Province saw the score but the ref gave a scrum. Portadown scored not long after and made the feeling even worse. 7-12.

A relieving kick from Portadown left Angus under some pressure, excellent support from the aging Chalmers meant that our backline had time to re-organise and Ally scored in the corner. Roger missed the conversion. 12-12.

Into the second have and a bit of a crowd was starting to gather. The match of choice for the 1st fifteen.

The match was very tense and with only about 7 minutes to go our centres got the chequered flags out and Portadown scored from first phase without a hand laid on him. 12-17 and possible red faces if we don't turn this round. Brian Turkington our scrum half took a pretty nasty knee to the head and was off. Wally moved into the backline.

A coupe of mighty runs from the excellent Hugh Daly and Niall Bryson again to the fore we marched up the pitch. Penalty to the 5s for some typical Portadown cheating and we had time for one last lineout. Roger, who had a pretty good game (not often heard that!) put us in the 22. 'Safe Hands' Cooper laid on perfect ball Wally managed to draw their men and Ally had about a quarter of an inch to spare and scored a superb try in the corner. 17-17 with the last kick of the game to win it. Would you put you house on O'Gilpin ?
No chance.Good effort though.

Man of the match was a tough one with Angus' try, Hugh's runs, Coopers lineout etc. Ally's two trys were very well taken and once again he gets it. Dick of the day clearly had Raven in the frame for tradition purposes but Rob's questioning of the Refs laws regarding drop outs directly into touch probably takes it. Great performance all round.

Team: 1. Mark McCartney 2. Steve Uprichard 3. Jamsey Graham 4. Hugh Daly 5. Richard Cooper 6. Niall Bryson 7. Steve Weatherup 8 Chick Chalmers
9 Brian Turkington 10 Roger O'Gilpin 11 Ally McCullough 12 Barry Dowling
13 Rob Calvert 14 Angus Mills 15 Marcus Cummings.

Man of the Match: Ally McCulloch

Dick of the Day: Rob Calvert

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