This match was dominated by a strong pre-Erica Atlantic wind. From the Derry Clubhouse perspective it blew from L to R and diagonally towards the Clubhouse.
Derry tries at 9 and 19,both converted by McCarter gave Derry an early lead 14-0. Quins replied with Rory BlakeKnox and Mark Kettyle tries at 27 and 41, the 2nd converted by Michael Heaney,to leave the 1st half score at Derry 14 Quins 12.
In the 2nd half at 6 mins, Robert Logan’s try put Quins ahead, Derry 14 Quins 19, Heaney having again converted.
At 13 mins,McCarter kicked a simple penalty to close the gap Derry 17 Quins 19.
At 35 mins,Heaney replied with a penalty: Derry 17 Quins 22.
However at 79 mins and from a rolling maul, Derry scored another try converted by McCarter: Derry 24 Quins 22 which was to be the final and winning score for Derry; good luck and fortune in the 2nd round. Michael Heaney hit the left hand upright at 81 mins, the ball bouncing back into play. One could say that Quins lost by about one inch, accordingly. However McCarter’s important conversion of Derry’s 3rd try was an impressive winning kick.
Our tackling, mauling and rucking were all good but Derry snaffled more of our lineouts than we did theirs and of course, they won the kicking battle exploiting the right hand(looking from the Coleraine end) touchline with aplomb.
A busy week starting on Wednesday 14th at the Dub v QUB(Ulster League) and on Saturday 17th at Deramore v Rainey(Ulster League).
Quins started with:
1 Mark McGrath 2 Robert Logan(C) 3 Paul Greenaway 4Gareth Rourke
5 Mark Ferguson 6 Paul Rea 7 Danny Annett 8 Alister Heatlie
9 David Creighton 10 Rory BlakeKnox 11 Matthew Holmes 12 Willie
Stewart 13 Mark Kettyle 14 Andy Pollock 15 Michael Heaney
16 Neil Montgomery 17 Paul Olding 18 Mike Willis 19 Mark Roberts
20 Owen McMurray
III XV B. Harlequins 3 7 – 60 Grosvenor 2
II XV City of Derry 45-19 Quins
