Down High Medallion 28 - 12 Portadown College Medallion
Portadown made the long trip to play a confident Down High side who were on the back of a narrow defeat to Medallion Shield favourites, Sullivan Upper.
Things started well for the home side, who kept rumbling forward with pick and go's from Aaron Chambers and Michael Reynolds. The pressure told and Ewan Keers sent the ball to his backs, who spread it, sending Reuben Ashe over in the corner for a very well taken try. The kick was added.
Down didn't stop, the forwards kept the intensity up, providing good ball for the backs. The trio of Charlie Power, Rowan McWilliams and John Hyndman kept Portadown guessing with a few excellent moves. A clever kick and chase put pressure on the visitors' fullback who had no option but to kick it out for a 5metre lineout, great hands from the lineout from Alex Martin kept possession 2 metres out. Front rower Harry McCormick then crossed the whitewash for another converted score.
Down won possession back, again the backs spread it, and Sam Leckey made a break deep into the opposition 22". A Portadown infringement resulted in a scrum. Centre John Hyndman was put through a gap in their defence. And excellent rucking from Chris Beattie and William Martin made ball available for James McBride to touchdown. The extras were converted to round off an excellent half of attacking rugby.
Down High then slacked off at the start of the second half to allow the Portadown hooker to score but the men in green responded brilliantly from the restart, William Martin and Peter Morrison turned ball over. The momentum was then with Down High, spreading it wide where Sam Leckey was knocked into touch metres from the line. Another infringement from the Portadown flanker resulted in a penalty, which Andrew Frazer took quickly to send McCormick over for his second score of the match, it was again converted. The substitutes began to come on and impressed, Paul Forbes was good at the breakdown and Tom Martin, Philip Smyth, Timmy Hayes and Robbie Stewart all made their tackles. However Portadown were not to be denied their second score, out-half James Hewitt using his strength and pace to go over in the corner, he missed his resulting kick.
Another good performance from the Mount Crescent boys who can take many positives from this match.
Portadown made the long trip to play a confident Down High side who were on the back of a narrow defeat to Medallion Shield favourites, Sullivan Upper.
Things started well for the home side, who kept rumbling forward with pick and go's from Aaron Chambers and Michael Reynolds. The pressure told and Ewan Keers sent the ball to his backs, who spread it, sending Reuben Ashe over in the corner for a very well taken try. The kick was added.
Down didn't stop, the forwards kept the intensity up, providing good ball for the backs. The trio of Charlie Power, Rowan McWilliams and John Hyndman kept Portadown guessing with a few excellent moves. A clever kick and chase put pressure on the visitors' fullback who had no option but to kick it out for a 5metre lineout, great hands from the lineout from Alex Martin kept possession 2 metres out. Front rower Harry McCormick then crossed the whitewash for another converted score.
Down won possession back, again the backs spread it, and Sam Leckey made a break deep into the opposition 22". A Portadown infringement resulted in a scrum. Centre John Hyndman was put through a gap in their defence. And excellent rucking from Chris Beattie and William Martin made ball available for James McBride to touchdown. The extras were converted to round off an excellent half of attacking rugby.
Down High then slacked off at the start of the second half to allow the Portadown hooker to score but the men in green responded brilliantly from the restart, William Martin and Peter Morrison turned ball over. The momentum was then with Down High, spreading it wide where Sam Leckey was knocked into touch metres from the line. Another infringement from the Portadown flanker resulted in a penalty, which Andrew Frazer took quickly to send McCormick over for his second score of the match, it was again converted. The substitutes began to come on and impressed, Paul Forbes was good at the breakdown and Tom Martin, Philip Smyth, Timmy Hayes and Robbie Stewart all made their tackles. However Portadown were not to be denied their second score, out-half James Hewitt using his strength and pace to go over in the corner, he missed his resulting kick.
Another good performance from the Mount Crescent boys who can take many positives from this match.