City of Derry RFC 32pts, Malone 13pts
City of Derry Rugby Club got back to winning ways on Saturday last at Judges Road when they recorded a comprehensive victory over Malone in the Ulster Senior League. Derry were on top all through and turned around at half time 13pts to 6pts in front thanks to try’s from Full back Aly Beckett and winger Simon Logue. The second half saw further trys from Simon Logue, Jack Beattie and David Ferguson to see the home team record a bonus point victory to confirm their superiority on the day.
The weather was perfect for rugby last Saturday but for the supporters it was bitterly cold. Derry were on song from the off with a solid scrum from Ross Harkin, Cathal Cregan and Rory Squires giving their back row of John Burns, Craig Huey and Stephen Corr a solid platform to work off. Chris Cooper and Adam Bratton controlled the lineout and primary possession was a given. Derry had a setback with only five minutes gone when John Burns had to leave field when he got a finger in his eye. Kevin McLaughlin came on at wing forward to make his senior debut for Derry.
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Derry went ahead on six minutes when their forwards carried ball forward in midfield and quick ball was snapped up by Andrew Semple who found Richard McCarter outside him. McCarter picked out full back Aly Beckett 40 meters out who drew the Malone winger and chipped the ball over his head. Beckett beat his man to touch down for an unconverted try in the corner and Derry were in front by 5pts to nil.
Jack Beattie was back in the first team for the first time this season made a great break down the right wing on thirteen minutes and found Aly Beckett outside him with a beautiful pass out the back of his hand but Beckett was bundled into touch with a try on the cards. Derry went further ahead a minute later when another good drive caught Malone offside and Andrew Semple kicked a penalty from 35meter for an 8pts to nil lead. Derry Head Coach Terry McMaser went to the bench on fifteen minutes to make a massive statement when he brought a new front row of Ger Collins, Cathal Cregan and Sam Duffy.
Derry lost Aly Beckett with a leg strain and Luke Dalton came on to also make his first team debut on the wing. Simon Logue went to full back and gave his best display of the season as he thrived on the space and freedom with plenty of opportunities on the ball. Logue the Master of Evasion was back with his fast feet, fainting and selling dummies at pace as he mesmerised the opposition.
Derry won a solid scrum 35 meters out after seventeen minute and the platform was set to allow Craig Huey to make a great break forward with Stephen Corr and Kevin McLaughlin in support producing quick ball. Andrew Semple was on the ball quick as a flash and he found Simon Logue outside him who ran in for an easy unconverted try and Derry’s lead was 13pts to nil. The Derry centres Stuart Simpson and Matthew Kilgore were a solid combination in both defence and attack all game, Kilgore was making his first team debut and he made a nice break from his own half on thirty minutes which almost resulted in a try.
Kevin McLaughlin retired with cramp and Captain David Ferguson came on at open side wing forward to give a Man of the Match performance. Fergusons work rate was phenomenal with a massive tackle count and with great ball carrying ability he looked a class above the opposition. Malone got themselves back in the game with two penalties from former Derry player Mark O’Connor just before half time to leave the score at the break with Derry leading by 13pts to 6pts.
Derry were on the scoreboard within three minutes of the restart, the forwards did the donkey work as they took play to the Malone 22. Quick ball once more and Semple found McCartrer who carried the ball across the Malone defence, he drew the cover and picked Jack Beattie running a terrific line to score by the posts and when Semple converted Derry were in front by 20pts to 6pts. Derry lost Chris Cooper to the sin bin on forty eight minutes as Malone came on the attack. Two quick tackles from Ferguson stemmed the initial thrust as Derry cleared their lines. Mark O’Connor produced a bit of magic on sixty minutes when he found his winger Adam Liddell 40 meters out with a cross field kick to run in and touch down for a try wide out and when O’Connor converted Malone were right back in the game 20pts to 13pts behind.
The game was suddenly in the balance as Malone came attacking, good line speed and discipline in the tackle from the Derry defensive line kept them at bay. Derry weathered the storm and suddenly the fight was gone from the Belfast men. The Judges Road men carried the ball to the Malone 22 and a dive from Cooper and Huey down the right allowed Semple to move play left to McCarter. The out half passed the ball on and Logue collected and skipped in for an unconverted try in the corner and the bonus point and a 25pts to 13pts lead.
Derry won a penalty 40 meters out as the game came to the final minute, McCarter kicked for a lineout inside the Malone 22. Cooper won possession and a forward drive saw that man Ferguson astonished at a free run to the line, Cathal Cregan and Ross Harkin were in support as Cregan dragged Ferguson over the line for a great forwards try and Semple converted as the Referee blew the final whistle and Derry had won by 32pts to 13pts.
City of Derry RFC Ladies also had a high scoring win today Sunday when they also defeated Malone @ Judges Road by 54pts to Nil. Derry accumulated ten try’s two of which were converted. Th eTry’s came from; Shannon Heapes 3, Sinead McKinney 2, Lizzie Ballantine 2, and 1 try each from Cheryl Lavery, Aoife Curran and Niamh Wayne.
City of Derry RFC 1st XV Team V Malone; Ross Harkin, David Ferguson, Rory Squires, Adam Bratton, Chris Cooper, Craig Huey, John Burns, Stephen Corr, Andrew Semple, Richard McCarter, Simon Logue, Stuart Simpson, Matthew Kilgore, Jack Beattie, Ali Beckett, Replacements; Ger Collins, Cathal Cregan, Sam Duffy, Kevin McLaughlin, Luke Dalton.
