Preview All Ireland League Division 2A Bruff v City of Derry RFC
Saturday 30th November 2013 @ Kilballyowen, Bruff
By; Moss Dineen
City of Derry Rugby Club travel to Bruff, Co Limerick on Saturday for their sixth All Ireland League Division 2A Fixture of the season with a 2.30pm Kick-off. The North West men are still unbeaten in the AIL having won four of their fixtures and drawn one and they have collected three bonus point as well. Derry are top of the league two points ahead of local Ulster rivals Ballymena who in fact will be their next home game in the AIL on Saturday 11th January 2014..
Bruff from Co Limerick is famous in rugby terms for producing the Hayes brothers John who was a Munster and Ireland Legend and Tom who was the go to man for Exeter in their quest for Premiership Rugby as he captained them and became their spiritual leader until he had to retire through injury last year. The Club were always known as a feeder club for Shannon in their Junior days until they went senior themselves via winning the Round Robin Series in 2003-2004 when they got the better of Colerain, Monivea and Seapoint.
The Limerick men’s rise to the top was rapid as they won AIL Division 3 in season 2007-2008 and went to AIL Division 1B in 2009-2010. They unfortunately were relegated last season and are yet to taste victory in AIL 2A. City of Derry’s record against Bruff over the years has not been good having played each other four times with the Limerick men winning three and Derry once down there in Season 2004-2005 by 24pts to 10pts. That game was probable the most physical but fair encounter any Derry team have ever played in the AIL, Gerald McCarter was Coach with Neil Stewart, Bob McKillop, Mark Walker, Ian Orr and Stephen Smyth outstanding on the day while David Witherow was hospitalised with a knee injury.
Derry will have to travel with caution to Munster this weekend because their unbeaten AIL Season to date will count for nothing down there as it will be used as a motivation to burst a northern bubble. Bruff will revert to type and bring a physicality and intensity to their play that will compensate for their frailties. Their existence at this current level is precarious with the number of home opportunities to perform and turn around their season going by as Barnhall and Bective have both won there already. Bruff have also lost away to Old Crescent and Rainey while last weekend they were dispatched by Old Wesley at Donnybrook by 57pts to 14pts.
City of Derry RFC Team V Bruff: Stephen Jefferson, David Ferguson, Sam Duffy, Chris Cooper, Stephen Corr, Richard Baird, Stephen Dickey. Stephen Ferguson, Jack Caithness, Andrew Semple, Ryan Campbell, Adam Bratton, Neil Burns, Simon Logue, William McCleery. Replacements: Cathal Cregan, Gareth Beatty, Paul McFeely, Adam Parke, Jack Hargan.
