City of Derry RFC 38pts, Queens 25pts
City of Derry Rugby Club’s winning start to the season continued on Saturday last at Judges Road when they scored six try’s for another bonus point victory over Queens University. The game produced some scintillating rugby at times from both sides that was a real advert for attacking rugby played in the best spirit of the game with mutual respect for each others play. This victory keeps Derry top of the Ulster League and in good physical and mental shape as they start their All Ireland League campaign with a home fixture on Saturday next against University College Cork.
The conditions on Saturday were perfect on a beautiful sunny September afternoon and Derry showed their intent from the start. It was attack from the off and full back Peter Henderson continued his fine vein of form as if he was the only player on the pitch. There was two minutes gone and Queens spilled ball inside the Derry half, Henderson picked up and an ordinary player would have just secured possession. Henderson in a flash had scanned Queens defensive setup and one quick sidestep released David Funston to draw the last man and leave Josh Lewis with a run in try. Henderson converted for a 7pts to nil home advantage.
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Henderson was almost on the mark on five minutes when he chipped the last player but was just beaten for the touchdown from 40 metres out. Queens were finding it difficult to live with the Judges Road men as the pace and intensity increased, the back row of former Queens player Tom Patton, Adam Bratton and Stephen Corr were all over their opposite numbers. They were well supported in tight and loose by Brian Prue and David Houston. Adam Parke started at out half and was pulling the strings nicely, he found Henderson out wide on fifteen minutes some 40 metres out and the star man fended off a couple of tacklers and was not to be denied as he scored an unconverted try in the corner and Derry’s lead was 12pts to nil.
Derry lost three backs to injury in quick succession which disrupted the team’s momentum. Simon Logue injured a hip, Henderson a finger injury and their captain David Funston came off after a midfield collision before the first quarter was over. Richard McCarter made a welcome return to out half with Adam Parke slipping into centre alongside Ryan Campbell who had a fine game. Jack Caithness moved to full back with Adam Bratton moving from flanker to wing. David Houston moved to the back row and with James Fawcett coming on it was an all Strabane second row. The play from both teams at this period became fractured as the accuracy that was in vogue early disappeared.
Queens had a good second quarter and their powerful centre Stuart McIlwaine handed off two Derry backs to touchdown for an excellent try and Ritchie McMaster who was kicking well all day converted and Derry’s lead was down to 12pts to 7pts with just over twenty minutes gone. The game was lively all through as it ebbed and flowed fro half to half and with Queens having the better of it McMaster kicked a fine long range penalty from over 40 metres to reduce the arrears to 12pts to 10pts and it was anyone’s game.
The Derry front row were on top in the set piece as Chris Shields, Sam McAuley and the impressive Gareth Beattie dominated all game. Derry finished the first half the stronger with Richard McCarter getting into his rhythm at out half, he found Chris Shields with a disguised pass on thirty seven minutes and a try looked a certainty but he was just held up. Derry got the 5 metre scrum and No 8 Stephen Corr touched down for a pushover try and McCarter converted for a 19pts to 10pts half time lead for the home team.
The second half started as the first half did with Derry dominating possession Cathal Creggan had come on as hooker along with Steven Jefferson at prop. Creggan produce a bit of sheer magic on five minutes with quick show of the ball and a burst of pace that deserved a try but he was stopped just short. Tom Patton who was terrific all through was also stopped just short of the line on twelve minutes and from the resulting scrum Stephen Corr picked up to show and cut back inside to score a great No 8 try under the posts and McCarter converted for a 26pts to 10pts lead. McMaster reduced the deficit with another long range penalty on fifteen minutes to 26pts to 13pts.
Adam Bratton had another terrific game for Derry at both flanker and on the wing and he cemented a Man of the Match performance around the twenty fifth minute of the second half. Firstly Queens were turned over in the Derry half following superb work from Beattie, Houston and Patton, Bratton picked up the loose ball and produced a powerful 60 metre run fending off a couple of players to score a unconverted try and a 31prs to 13pts lead. Bratton almost replicated the same kind of score from the kick off as he fielded the ball and powered 50 metres into the Queens 22 before he was brought down.
Derry were playing well throughout the second half with Ryan Campbell always prominent in defence and attack and Andrew Semple at scrum half having his best game of the season, he varied his play and kept the opposition always guessing. Semple released Richard McCarter on thirty two minutes to make the decisive break over 30 metres out and when he found Josh Lewis, he produced power and pace to score a try out wide and McCarter converted for a 38pts to 13pts lead with just over five minutes remaining.
Queens came back into the game with two tries in the last five minute as the home team switched off. Full back Damien Hall got in for an unconverted try on thirty five minutes and then three minutes later substitute John Russell got a consolation score and with McMaster kicking excellently he converted to leave Derry winning deservedly by 38ots to 25pts.
City of Derry Team V Queens; Chris Shields, Sam McAuley, Gareth Beattie, Brian Prue, David Houston, Adam Bratton, Tom Patton, Stephen Corr, Andrew Semple, Richard Peoples, Simon Logue, Ryan Campbell, David Funston, Josh Lewis, Peter Henderson. Replacements; Cathal Cregggan, Steven Jefferson, James Fawcett, Jack Caithness, Richard McCarter.
City of Derry 2nd XV 71pts, Queens 2nd XV 14pts
City of Derry 2nd’s got back to winning ways against Queens 2’s on Saturday with a comprehensive 11 try 71-14 victory at Judges Road.
In perfect conditions it only took the home team 2 minutes to break down the students defence. Out half Richard Peoples made a fine break and fed the ball to Steven Duffy, Duffy was held up short of the line and following a series of quick rucks scrumhalf Roger McCracken dived over for a try.
The second try came 10 minutes later when Peoples, who controlled the game from 10, threw a perfect miss pass to Paddy Blennerhasset. The centre didn’t have to break his stride, took the pass and touched down for a try which Peoples converted.
Peoples added a try of his own following good drives from Witherow & McKillop which he also converted before he and Blennerhasset linked again for the centres second try, again Peoples added the conversion. On 30 minutes a superb break by Davy Graham took play deep into the Queens 22 and from the ensuing ruck Jonny Lyons picked and was driven over by the pack for a try. Peoples converted.
Centre Blennerhasset completed his hat trick of trys on the stroke of halftime, again the ever reliable Peoples added the extras to give Derry a 40-0 half time lead.
Unfortunately for the students the second half started as the first ended with the Derry pack totally in control of all aspects of play and they provided quick ball for the backs who attacked at every opportunity.
Some big carries from Ferguson, Witherow and ex 1st XV captain McKilliop, who had an outstanding game at no 8, led to Derry adding 3 more quick tries, 2 converted by out half Peoples to increase their lead to 59-0. At this stage Derry took their foot of the pedal and some poor tackling allowed the students in for 2 converted scores.
Beneath the posts while waiting for the conversion McKillop & Balfour rallied the team and from the restart, when Queen’s again tried to attack, a long miss pass was intercepted by winger Steven Brennan who ran in from 45 metres for a try.
Derry rounded off the scoring with the last move of the game when fullback Phil Duffy crossed for his 3rd try, the addition of the conversion brought the final score to 71-14.
The Derry pack laid the foundation for the win dominating the set pieces but especially in loose play where the experience and guile of Witherow & McKillop complimented the youthful vigour of Ross Harkin, who had his best game in a Derry shirt, Lyons & Ferguson who carried well and made a number of big tackles.
Second row James Fawcett along with Jonny Lyons took some great ball at the line out and he, along with flanker Steven Duffy worked tirelessly around the park for the 80 minutes.
Scrum half Roger McCracken kept his pack moving and Richard Peoples orchestrated play from 10, setting the backline in motion where man of the match Davy Graham and Paddy Blennerhasset combined well in the centre.
Next Saturday Derry travel to Randalstown in the first round of the Junior Cup.
