Letterkenny 2nd XV score 6 tries in Home thriller
Letterkenny 2nd XV hosted Ballymoney 5’s on Saturday at the Glebe in the Ulster Minor League. The home team got the scoring under way after good pressure on Ballymoney in their own 22. Following a lineout, the Letterkenny pack marshalled by their scrumhalf and captain Tony McBride, mauled their way over the tryline for the opening score, dotted down by Sean Colgan. Stephen Robinson continued his fine form with the boot to add the conversion from a difficult angle.
Having decided to play for territory, Letterkenny found themselves inside the scoring zone once again after a strong run from winger Terrence Gallagher who was unlucky to be hauled down 5 metres short of the line. However a quick pop to the on rushing Roger McLaughlin playing at 13 let him in for his first try of the day and again Robinson converted to leave the score at 14-0. 
Ballymoney tried to put some phases of play together for themselves in the Letterkenny half but good defence from the home team kept out the very physical vistors. They did however win a penalty and took the opportunity to get on the scoreboard.
The next try of the game came from a 5m scrum after Kevin McLaughlin almost went over in the corner but was adjudged to have been held up. From the resulting scrum though, McLaughlin picked and went on the openside popping the ball to McBride who drew in the Ballymoney number 10 and popped to Roger McLaughlin to barrell his way over for his 2nd try of the day. Robinson added the extras and left the score 21-3 at the break.
Ballymoney were first out of the traps after the break when they upped the tempo and the pressure on Letterkenny. Following 2 or 3 penalties inside the 22 they eventually found space out on the wing for their centre to crash over leaving the score at 21-8.
Letterkeny regained their 1st half dominance however and some good kicking from outhalf John Gibbons and scrum half Tony McBride got them playing the game in the right areas of the pitch. Their lineouts were also going well for periods as flanker Dave Heraghty called a few different moves to keep the opposition guessing.
Letterkennys 4th try of the game came from another good break by Terrence Gallagher who was supported well by outhalf Gibbons to finish off the move.
The 5th try of the game was without doubt the pick of the lot when some good handling from both backs and forwards allowed Terrence Gallagher to go in unopposed in the corner after an overlap was created by the play.
The final try of the game was scored by Tony McBride after he took a quick tap for a penalty and jinked his way over the line. Robinson again scored the conversion to bring the result to 42-8. The biggest win of the season so far and a sign of the talent this side possesses.
U13 Letterkenny v Dungannon
The final score flattered Letterkenny in what was a very good game of rugby at the Glebe on Saturday morning. A testament to how well matched the two sides were, is the fact that the game was over twenty minutes old before the first score. Letterkenny’s forwards quickly found that they were dealing with a very mobile and organised Dungannon pack. The excellent rucking by both sides saw the ball fed back to the back lines regularly, and made for some high quality rugby.
Uh-oh didn’t expect the defence up that fast! No easy possession
Just over twenty minutes, after a number of halted attacks, Letterkenny finally opened the scoring when Lewi Carson crashed over the line close to the right hand touchline. The conversion was a bit of an ask, and just failed to make the distance. After the restart, with renewed confidence Letterkenny were back with a try five minutes later on the left-hand side by Joe Dunleavy. There were no easy yards in this match and it was inches from the touchline, so again just out of kicking range for the conversion. Dungannon came back like men on a mission, but despite some great handling, what looked like a certain try saw a foot go into touch just short of the line. Letterkenny re-grouped and pushed play back to the halfway mark. A penalty quickly taken gifted a pass to Sam Stevenson who finding himself in space needed no encouraging to go on a long distance sprint and score under the posts.
The second half started with Dungannon scoring a try that had been threatened for some time. The quickly taken penalty by Letterkenny in the first half had not gone unnoticed, and one equally quickly taken saw the Dungannon scrum-half sprinting for the line as the Letterkenny boys were making their way (maybe a little slowly?) back on side.
Dungannon counter
The rest of the half remained scoreless until the last three minutes, when Lewi again forced his way over the line thanks to some tremendously improved support from the Letterkenny pack. Can’t mention everyone that should be mentioned, but John Fogarty and James McKay in particular had a game to remember. Matthew Johnston converted.
There was a little confusion as to where one of the try lines was situated during the match, due to the building work on the new Clubhouse. It was a shame, but in the end didn’t change the outcome. Remember! It’s an inconvenience we can live with, because the next time we welcome Dungannon it will be into our brand new, state-of-the-art changing rooms!
Letterkenny RFC 22 Dungannon RFC 5
FR
A very relieved U13 squad – a hard won victory
