City of Derry RFC 38pts, Queens 17pts
Match Report by; Moss Dineen
City of Derry Rugby Club continued their recent run of form when they comprehensively defeated De La Salle Palmerston in All Ireland League Division 2A at Kilternan, South Dublin on Saturday last. The Judges Road men scored five try’s and had the bonus point safely in their pockets with just twenty five minutes gone. This result moves Derry up the league table to seventh position and sees them just five points outside a top four position which was their goal for the season. There are six games remaining in the league with three away and three at home starting next Saturday with Banbridge at Judges Road for a 2.30pm Kick-off.
Derry travelled to Dublin with twelve of their senior squad unavailable due to injury, sickness and other commitments. It was with some in trepidation that Derry took the field on Saturday considering DLSP were playing in AIL Division 1 three seasons ago and were vying for promotion when the came to Judges Road last season. Their lowly position in the league had to be treated with scepticism and the unavailability of key players could have been a problem for Derry Coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair.
The initial exchanges were even on a perfect day for rugby at Kirwan Park as the Dublin and Three Rock Mountains looked on in the background. DLSP had early pressure and missed a penalty shot from 30 meters when Derry went off side at a ruck after two minutes. There was an early warning for DLSP when Simon Logue who was filling in at full back for the exam restricted Peter Henderson pounced on loose ball in his own half. He went on a mesmeric run beating seven players before being stopped by the last man 15 meters out.
City of Derry were awarded a penalty on the half way line on nine minutes and Simon Logue took a quick tap penalty and engaged attack attack mode sidestepping, skipping and giving shows of the ball at pace. Logue had evaded several tackles and this time drew the last man. He passed to his ever alert scrum half Jack Caithness in support to touch down between the posts and when out half Richard Peoples converted Derry’s nerves were settled with a 7pts to nil lead. DLSP again kicked loose ball to Simon Logue three minutes later and when he picked up in his own half he created panic and uncertainty once more as he beat several players with ease before the move broke down but he had left his calling card.
Confidence was now the order of the day among all the Derry players and on fourteen minutes Captain David Funston made a great outside break following good work from Ryan Campbell and David Graham. Funston found the outstanding Richard Baird in support who exchanged a couple of passes with Funston as they beat three players before Baird touched down for an excellent try and Peoples added the extras for a 14pts to nil lead. DLSP kicked off and Richard Baird fielded beautifully, he quickly offloaded to Simon Logue 30 meters from his own posts. Logue switched on the afterburners and beat three men as he ran the length of the field to touch down between the posts and Peoples converted for a 21prs to nil lead.
Derry were dominating the set pieces with Steven Jefferson and David Ferguson having their best games in the front row since joining in the summer from Coleraine. They were well supported by the experienced Sam Duffy at tight head prop and with Brian Prue and the athletic Chris Cooper dominating the line outs, guaranteed quality possession was assured. The back row of Stephen Corr Tom Patton and Richard Baird were bossing the exchanges in the loose and at the breakdown and this allowed scrum half Jack Caithness and out half Richard People to run the show. Peoples had an exceptional game keeping the opposition back row honest with big physical carries and his passing and kicking from hand and ground were accurate.
DLSP got themselves on the scoreboard with a penalty from scrum half Ian Burke after twenty minutes and they added to that two minutes later when Derry dropped a pass in midfield and when out half Adam Philpott picked up he had a clear rung to the line to touch down for a try and when Burke converted Derry’s lead was down to 21prs to 10pts.
Derry got their fourth try and bonus point after twenty five minutes and what a team try it was. Richard Baird made the hard yards from his own half supported by Patton, Corr and Jefferson. Baird found Funston who kicked ahead and found Chris Cooper who linked with David Ferguson who in turn found Jack Caithness in support. Caithness passed to Cooper again who drove to the line and touch down for a try. Peoples converted for a lead of 28pts to 10pts which was carried to the break.
Derry were well on top and were eager to get the first try in the second half and they had the majority of possession for the first fifteen minutes. Sam Duffy and Tom Patton manufactured a chance for Stephen Corr to make a great break for the line on seventeen minutes, Corr was stopped just short and when DLSP killed the ball at the breakdown the referee sin binned their wing forward. Derry took the scrum and Jack Caithness found Chris Barber who powered in for a try by the posts and when Peoples converted Derry were ahead by 35pts to 10pts and game over.
Coach Mark Nicholl went to the bench and brought on Paul McFeely and Cathal Cregan to the front row and William McCleery and Adam Parke to the backline. DLSP to their credit worked their way back into the game and retained possession for long periods. The Derry defence was well tested but their line was eventually breached on thirty one minutes when Conor Power Jnr got in for a try to reward pressure and with Ian Burke converting Derry’s lead was 35pts to 15pts.
DLSP received a setback shortly afterwards when Phil De Barra who had come on as sub after six months out with injury and was playing well. He received a serious ankle injury and has to be carried off the pitch. Robbie Logue made his debut for Derry from the bench after thirty eight minutes to make it a unique occasion for his family playing alongside his brother Simon in the backline.
DLSP showed spirit and more sustained attacking play on the Derry line allowed their Number 8 Karl Millar to get in for an unconverted try on forty minutes. Derry won possession from the kick off and ran the clock down and were rewarded for possession when Richard Peoples kicked a penalty seven minutes into injury time for a final score and victory for the Judges Road men by 38pts to 22pts.
This was a good victory for Derry and with five of their six remaining games against teams below them in the league a top four finish is still a possibility. There are a number of key players who will be available again next week which will give more options at team selection. Simon Logue was a revelation at full back last Saturday giving a Man of the Match performance. DLSP must be having nightmares as the ubiquitous Simon Logue destroyed them with the greatest ever display of broken play attacking rugby seen in a Derry jersey.
City of Derry Team V Queens; Steven Jefferson, David Ferguson, Sam Duffy, Chris Cooper, Brian Prue, Stephen Corr, Tom Patton, Richard Baird, Jack Caithness, Richard Peoples, David Graham, David Funston, Chris Barber, Ryan Campbell, Simon Logue. Replacements; Cathal Cregan, Paul McFeely, Adam Parke, William McCleery, Robert Logue.
