City of Derry 2nd XV replicated what their 1st XV counterparts achieved the previous weekend in the Senior Cup with a comprehensive victory over Rainey at Magherafelt on Saturday last this time in the League. The Judges Road men scored seven try’s with four different backs and two forwards sharing the touch downs in an all round excellent team performance.
The game started with the exchanges evenly shared on a beautiful autumn afternoon for rugby. The Derry pack were working hard with the back row of Ryan Spratt, Ross Scott and Captain Jonny Lyons very industrious ably supported by second rowers Brian Prue and Rodney Hill. Matt Heaney and Robbie Logue combined with Brian Prue and Ross Scott to win good ball going forward 30 meters out on eleven minutes and Jonny Lyons in support released Andrew Semple to touch down for an unconverted try in the corner and Derry were ahead by 5pts to nil.
The Rainey were back on level terms within three minutes when they also touched down for an unconverted out wide. The Derry pack were on top in the scrums all afternoon with Ross Harkin, Cathal Cregan and Paul McFeely a formable front row combination. McFeely supported by Hill carried ball to the Rainey 22 on nineteen minutes and linked with centre Neil Burns who was giving a Man of the Match performance. Burns beat two men to create a two on one situation and when he drew the last man winger Ian Bratton made no mistake in touching down for a try far our and with Burns converting Derry were in front by 12pts to 5pts.
Andrew Semple was oozing confidence following his early try carrying ball and always looking to bring other players into the game. The scrum produced quality ball on twenty five minutes 30 meters out and an 8/9 move saw Ross Scott pickup and feed Semple who found centre Josh Lewis to beat two players and touch down for a try and Burns added the extras for a 19pts to 5pts lead.
The try of the game came on twenty eight minutes when the best two players on the pitch Semple and Burns combined. Andrew Semple found Neil Burns just inside their own half and with strength and pace he beat two players as he made his way diagonally to the Rainey line only to be challenged by the last man. Running out of space in the corner he deftly flicked the ball inside over the line for Johnny Lyons in support to touch down for a wonderful try which Burn converting Derry were ahead by 26pts to 5pts at the break.
The second half was just five minutes old when Semple and Burns combined and Burns left four men in his wake and Semple was on hand to touch down and with his assistant converting the Judges Road men were leading by 33pts to 5pts. The Derry scrum was all powerful now as they obliterated Rainey with total power pushing them off their own ball to setup quick ball for Semple to capitalize on. Brian Prue won quality line out ball for Derry on fourteen minutes 22 Meters out and following strong driving Rodney Hill touched down for his first try for the Club and Burns added the extras for a 40pts to 5pts lead.
Derry were well on top now and following another power packed scrum on twenty seven minutes Andrew Semple and Josh Lewis worked a mesmeric wrap around move that flummoxed the Rainey defence and allowed Semple to draw the last man and give winger Jack Hargan an easy run in for an unconverted try in the corner for a 45pts to 5pts lead.
Rainey got in for two late consolation try’s one of which was converted to leave the final score at 45pts to 17pts and an excellent victory for the Judges Road men. This was an excellent display with every player on the Derry side giving performances that saw them putting their hands up for 1st Team selection to City of Derry Coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair.
City of Derry 2nd XV Team V Rainey OB; Ross Harkin, Cathal Cregan, Paul McFeely, Brian Prue, Rodney Hill, Ryan Spratt, Jonny Lyons(Captain), Ross Scott, Andrew Semple, Matt Heaney, Ian Bratton, Neil Burns, Josh Lewis, Jack Hargan, Robbie Logue.
