The Kinetica sponsored “Deramore Devels” welcomed table toppers City of Derry to Deramore Park on Saturday for what was going to prove to be a very entertaining match.
The Devels had a number of players returning from injury to bolster their side and were hoping to have success on this bright fresh but windy day in Belfast.
The game started of with the City of Derry receiving the kick off which was well placed and good Quins pressure led to COD not being able to secure the ball, however frantic work enabled them to regain the ball and start to work it down field. Play remained in the middle area of the pitch until the eight minute mark turnover gave the play back to Quins and a chip through the COD defence by Chris Henderson saw Finton Hillyard charge through to regain the ball and score, conversion was pulled just right of the upright by the swirling cross field wind, 5 – 0
Three minutes later COD were awarded a penalty 10 metres out in front of the Home sides posts for an offside infringement which they slotted, 5 – 3.
COD started to show why they sit unbeaten on top of the league and forward pressure saw Quins having a defencive 5 metre scrum which they won but as scrum half Robbie Creighton lifted the ball to pass for a clearance kick the opposite scrumhalf, unseen by the referee, knocked the ball out of his hands and dived over for a score, again the wind pulled their conversion attempt wide of the mark, 5 – 8.
The Devels knew this was to be a hard comeback but started to dominate the open play and increase the pace of the game this resulted on the 25 minute mark with a forward break releasing Henderson who made ground and passed to Kyle Adams who broke a number of tackles before off loading to the supporting Henderson who scored wide of the posts, again the conversion just went wide of the uprights, 10 – 8
The Home team seemed to relax at this point and it was only 2 minutes later that City of Derry charged through the home defence to score a converted try under the posts, 10 -15
Quins came straight back at them much to the delight of the home support and some brilliant handling by the back line saw Hillyard go in for his second try, Henderson converted, 17 – 15.
Quins were then to have another say in this game when after the restart, Devels winger Charlie Campalani ran some 70 metres breaking a number of tackles and as he cut across the pitch was tackled but off loaded to supporting runner Hillyard who went in for his 3rd try, 22 -15.
Although the Home side had started to dominate the play COD were to have the final say of the half with a penalty in front of Quins posts, 22 – 18.
A fairly easy halftime chat sorted some of the problems suffered in the first half and the second half showed the “Devels” intention with some great inter-playing of backs and forwards in open play and Henderson kicking the corners, on the 5th minute of this half great work by Paul Greenaway and Dan McRitchie saw Creighton get fast ball away to Henderson who popped to Ricky McKee who in turn released Campalani to score out wide, 27 – 18,
Quins had taken control of the game and every attack COD brought was held off. Quins put some excellent defence in on their own line on a number of occasions and controlled the open play, this soon resulted in Neil Trimble charging through and score out wide, Henderson converted 34 – 18.
Twenty minutes into the half COD tried to pick up their intensity and took a quick lineout just inside their 22, their outhalf wasn’t ready and knocked on, the ball was picked up by Henderson who broke the fullbacks tackle charged over to score between the post which he converted, 42 – 18.
On the 34th minute of the half COD got a counterattack opportunity which they used well finishing in an unconverted try making the final score 42 – 23.
It was a fine display form the home side and although at times had problems in the set piece they had come onto the field expecting this and more than made up for it in open play and at the breakdown.
