Portadown U18 29-19 Enniskillen U18, Monday 28 Feb 2022
The first of this season’s Nutty Krust group stage games got underway under the floodlights at a cold but dry Chambers Park when the Portadown U18 team played the Enniskillen U18 team on Monday evening.
The Portadown team recorded a well contested 29-19 victory with the scoreboard having read 17-7 in their favour at the break. A sizeable crowd had gathered to watch an entertaining game which featured quite a few talented players on both teams.
The Portadown team started the game in a positive mood and dominated both territory and possession scored for long periods of the first half. They scored three first half tries through Jamie Hayes, Jack Coulter and Ciaran Peterson. With the aid of the cross-bar Toby Gribben was successful with one of his conversion kicks.
The Enniskillen team, on a rare first half incursion into the Portadown 'Red Zone', made good use of lineout ball just before the break. Their impressive tight head prop, James Elliott, had to work hard before eventually touching down for a well deserved try which was converted by Odhran Clenaghan, to leave the half time score reading 17-7 in favour of the Portadown team.
The Portadown team started the second half strongly. A subtle off-load from Jamie Hayes put Ciaran Peterson in for an unconverted try to increase their lead to 24-7.
The Enniskillen team responded positively and reduced the deficit to 24-14 when Daniel Kathru combined with Cahir McCahill and James Ross before touching down for a try which Oisin McPhillips converted.
Portadown then came back and scored an unconverted bonus point try through Ryan Moore to increase their lead to 29-14.
Once again, the Enniskillen team displayed great commitment and scored the seventh try of the game when Alfie Cooper and Ryan Beattie combined to send Oisin McPhillips in for an unconverted try.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Jim Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in Flat Dogs Restaurant, and organised by Ryan, the Flat Dogs proprietor. Ryan was assisted by Johnny and Matthew Wickham. All the players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Ciaran O’Kane, President of Portadown Rugby Club, presented the Nutty Krust Man of the Match Award at the post-match ceremony to Ciaran Peterson, the Portadown RFC U18 No 13.
City of Armagh U18 0-24 Dungannon U18, Wednesday 2 Mar 2022
The second of this season’s Nutty Krust group stage games got underway under the floodlights at a cold and damp Chambers Park when the City of Armagh U18 team played the Dungannon U18 team on Wednesday evening.
The Dungannon team recorded a well contested 24-0 victory with the scoreboard having read 10-0 in their favour at the break.
The Dungannon team started the game in a positive mood and dominated both territory and possession scored for long periods of the first half. They scored two first half unconverted tries through Caolan Donaghy, who ran in for his try from the halfway line, and Oliver McIlwaine who took advantage of good work from Tim Clarke, Jake Callaghan and Owen Donaghy before touching down for his try.
The Armagh team had penalty opportunities to put points on the board but decided to play with the ball in hand. Positive Dungannon defence kept these attacks at bay which ensured the Dungannon team took their 10-0 lead into the break.
The third quarter of the game was played, in the main, between the respective 22m lines. At times the Armagh team, with players such as Michael Daly, Lee Nesbitt, Jack Rountree and Dylan Hazelton leading the way, looked as if they might breach the Dungannon defence but a degree of indecision saw some promising attacks come to nothing.
The Dungannon pack then started to dominate proceedings with Ashley Doherty carrying strongly. After one such carry Adam Godfrey trundled over the whitewash for a third Dungannon try. Zak Holmes added the conversion to see his team into a 17-0 lead.
The Dungannon team went on to claim a bonus point victory when Zak outwitted the Armagh defence to touch down for the try which he converted. This try secured the bonus point winning 24-0 victory for the Dungannon U18 team.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Jim Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Flat Dogs Gourmet Food” Restaurant, and organised by Ryan, the Flat Dogs proprietor. Ryan was assisted by Johnny Wickham in serving the food. All the players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Gary Jackson, former Royal School, Armagh, King’s Scholars RFC, Portadown RFC Hooker, and immediate Past-President of Portadown Rugby Club, presented the Nutty Krust Man of the Match Award at the post-match ceremony to Ashley Doherty, the Dungannon U18 team No 8.
The tournament continues next week when Portadown play Omagh on Monday 7th of March, and Armagh take on Rainey OB on Wednesday the 9th of March.