The Annual Christmas Fixtures @ City of Derry Rugby Club takes place this year on Monday 27th December 2010. The day should make for a Festival of Rugby with the Youth Section of the Club starting the proceedings Kick-off at 11am with three games against Foyle College. The age groups are Under 19’s, 17’s and 15’s which should make for competitive encounters at each age grade.
The Golden Oldies will display the skills of yesteryear when they Kick-off at 1pm in what is normally a competitive encounter. They will relive the days when there was no lifting in the lineouts, scrums did not last all day and a try was worth four points.
The main game of the day should be some encounter when the Cityside take on the Waterside at 2pm. This will be the first time in many years when all the senior players in the club will be available for selection. Philip Brady will captain the Waterside and Stephen Corr former club captain will lead the Cityside players.
There are a few interesting encounters that should make for some competitive fayre in various areas of the pitch. The Waterside have a young pairing at half back where Simon Logue comes in at scrum half with Ritchie McMaster at No 10. They will be in direct competition with the regular 2nd XV pairing of Philip Duffy at scrum half and David Smyth at out half who will be looking to put one over their opponents.
The back row should be another area that will be closely fought. The Waterside will have Mark Walker leading the back row from the front supported by regular first team players Richard Baird and Stephen Ferguson. The Cityside will match up with exile Peter McFeely and regular first teamers Stephen Corr and Stephen Simms. Whoever wins the battle of the back rows will probably win the game.
There should once again be a great atmosphere around the rugby club all day with many former members returning home for Christmas. The Club President William said “Everyone is welcome to come along on Monday and enjoy The Christmas Festival of Rugby @ Judges Road”.
