Queens City 50pts, City of Derry RFC 15pts
Match Report by; George Walker
City of Derry travelled to Belfast on Saturday last for an Ulster League Fixture on a perfect autumn afternoon for Rugby but came away having been beaten comprehensively by eight try’s to two. Derry entered the game with ten changes from the team that played Bective in the All Ireland League at Donnybrook in a bonus point draw the previous weekend. Queens themselves also had a number of changes as they rotated their squad to try out some fringe players.
Queens started the game with some intent and were in front with just two minutes gone. Poor tackling from Derry allowed winger Damien Hall get for a try in the corner which was converted by Justin Rae and the home team were in front by 7pts to nil. Derry were guilty of another miss tackle in midfield after just six minutes and again Hall got in for an unconverted try this time and Queens were ahead by 12pts to nil. Derry received a major setback on ten minutes when they lost second row David Houston with an injury. Derry eventually got some territory and out half Neil Burns converted a penalty after Queens were caught offside and it was 12pts to 3pts.
Derry’s downfall was compounded once more with poor tackling on twenty five minutes and left winger McAuley touched down for an unconverted try. Queens were well on top now as they dominated possession and were able to play typical student rugby throwing the ball around at will as Derry lost their shape. Queens got in for another try just before half time following great continuity with offloading in the tackle that allowed wing forward Ryan Clarke to touch down for a try to leave the half time score at 24pts to 3pts for the Students.
Derry regrouped at half time and started the second half with more purpose. Andrew Semple was pulling the strings at scrum half and Jack Caithness got in for an unconverted try to reduce the arrears to 24pts to 8pts, Good play again from Queens with ten minutes of the second half gone allowed McAuley get in for his second try and with Rae converting the score was 31pts to 8pts. The home were back on the attack five minute later and following sustained pressure, scrum half Conor Spence nipped in for a try and Rae converted for a 38pts to 8pts lead.
Queens had Ulster player Stuart McIlwaine playing in the centre and he showed his class on thirty minutes when he made a great break in midfield and strolled in for another try converted again by Rae for a score line of 45pts to 8pts. Queens confirmed their dominance when their second row Grant Barclay got through for an unconverted to allow his team to reach the half century with five minutes to go. Derry finished the game with a flourish when Simon Logue was on hand to capitalise on good play to race in for a converted try to leave the final score 50pts to 15pts for Queens.
City of Derry RFC Team V Queens: William McCleery, Ryan Campbell(Capt), Adam Parke, Adam Bratton, Josh Lewis, Neil Burns, Jack Caithness, Chris Shields, Cathal Cregan, Paul McFeely, David Houston, Chris Cooper, Ross Scott, Jonny Lyons, Stephen Corr. Replacements; David Ferguson, Gareth Beattie, Andrew Semple, Simon Logue
