Port 2nds took a valuable 4 points at home to Midland Warriors in the penultimate league round in Lea yesterday.
Warriors took the early lead with a penalty after 5 minutes before Port settled in defence. Jason Keogh followed up a great tackle with a jackal turn over which lead to the first Port score. A stolen line out lead to a Ben Dooley break in midfield who beat two defenders before being tackled five meters out. Dooley had the awareness to get his hands free and pop from the ground to Declan Hennessy running a great support line for the easiest of groundings for the opening try, converted by Eugene Nolan. Port doubled their try count after 20 mins when a great clearing kick by Jason Keogh was spilled by the warriors winger only for Owen Worrell to gather and score under the posts, again converted by Nolan.

The warriors produced some good back play to keep pressure on Port, despite ferocious tackling by James Sherlock and Killian Maher, and were rewarded with an unconverted try off a scrum in the 24th min.
Eugene Nolan produced a great turn over in the 28th min and good hands from Dylan Langford and Donnagh Callaly released Worrell to get in under the posts for his second, duly converted. Just before half time pressure by Port forwards on the warriors 10 meters out lead to man of the match Jason Keogh sniping from the ruck to dive over for ports third, again converted by Nolan who was perfect off the tee on the day.

Port went to sleep on the resulting restart and an unlucky offside call from a knock on lead to the warriors scoring a scrappy try after sustained pick and go pressure. This was converted and the sides went in a half time 28 - 15 in favour of Port.

The second half say many changes including the introduction of young buster, snack box and Liam Mac (who had to be removed minutes later with a bad leg injury). The age though was averaged out when Pat Cooper, Joander Brazon and Morgan and Darran Hennessy took to the field. A steal by Oisin Mooney and clearing kick by Worrell lead to some lovely play which resulted in Declan Hennessy running in under the posts for his second try after taking a great line off Keoghs quick ruck ball.

However the warriors were not lying down and they scored their third try in the 57th minute with a great individual effort from the warriors scrum half, who converted his own try. Nolan converted his first penalty of the day in the 67th min to keep distance between the teams, and this proved a good decision as the warriors ran in their 4th try in the 74th minute after some tidy back play and exploiting numbers to the left.

However Port were to have the last say when snackbox's huge tackle on the warriors winger five meters out from the warriors line lead to a port line out from which Joander Brazon went over. Nolan converted to finish 7 from 7 on the day.

Portarlington 45 - 27 Midland Warriors

A win against Parkmore next Friday night in Terenure will guarantee Port a home final, against the same opposition.