Donaghadee 1st XV’s season comes to a close this Saturday when they travel to Barban Hill to take on Dromore in both sides final Kukri Qualifying One game of the season. The game takes on added significance given that both Clubs are competing to finish with a top four place and hence qualify for the prestigious Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup next season. The current top of the league standings are as follows:
1 Portadown Played 18 79 points
2 CIYMS Played 16 55 points
3 Donaghadee Played 17 50 points
4 Clogher Valley Played 16 49 points
5 Dromore Played 17 45 points
6 Coleraine Played 17 43 points
Various permutations exist but – from Donaghadee’s perspective – the situation is best explained as follows…. Domore must beat the Dee whilst gaining a bonus point this Saturday and at the same time deny the men in red and green any bonus points ie losing or try scoring in order for the Dee not to be guaranteed at least 4th position. Of course the simplest thing for the Dee to try and do is get the win. An integral part of the Dee’s recent accomplishments has been their travelling support and the side would urge all who can to try and make the trip to Dromore on Saturday for one last effort from everyone – kick off 2:30pm. (NB – If Portadown qualify for the AIL via the current Round Robin series then the teams finishing in 2nd to 5th places will qualify for the All Ireland Junior Cup).
This game also marks the final appearance for the 1st XV of their popular New Zealander Kalave Auali’itia. Kalave arrived in the Dee in August 2011 and has proved an integral part of the success the Club has enjoyed over the past couple of seasons. A quiet man off the field but an exceptionally powerful one on it both the dynamic second row forward and his girlfriend Hannah have been magnificent ambassadors for their country and will be sorely missed around the Club and the town when they head off on the homeward journey in the middle of next month.
Meanwhile the 2nd XV have a re-arranged league game against Dromore 2nd XV with a 2:30pm kick off.
After both games an “End of Season Players & Supporters Party” has been arranged in the Clubhouse at Donaldson Park kicking off at 6:00pm when rumour has it the Vice-Chairman will be getting the BBQ out for the first time in 2013.
Obituary
The Club are sad to announce the passing away of former club stalwart Jimmy McNarry’s wife Alethea some two weeks ago. The President, Chairman, Council and members of Donaghadee RFC pass on their condolences to Jimmy, Nicola, Paul, Kerry- Ann, Christopher and the wider family circle at this difficult time.
