Belfast Harlequins 15pts, City of Derry RFC 14pts
City of Derry Rugby Club travelled to Belfast on Saturday last to take on AIL Division 1B side Belfast Harlequins in the Ulster League and came away on the end of a one point defeat that was not deserved. Derry dominated play for most of the game and had a lead of 14pts to 3pts going into the last two minutes of injury time. There was to be a Dickensian style twist of the Artful Dodger type as Quins pick pocketed the Judges Road men as if they were coached by Fagin himself when the scored two late late try’s.
The weather conditions were atrocious in Belfast on Saturday with gale force winds and driving rain across the pitch with no advantage to either side. The wind was the winner early on as both teams struggled to come to terms with the severe gusts which ensured there were plenty errors as the game was played 20 meters either side of the half way line. The Derry scrum was dominant all through with Gareth Beatty, Cathal Cregan and Sam Duffy having the edge on technique and power supported by second row Paul McFeely and Chris Cooper.
Harlequins opened the scoring with a penalty on their first visit to the Derry 22 after twenty five minutes when an off side decision allowed Liam Cambridge to slot over an easy chance from 20 meter to put Quins 3pts to nil in front. The Judges Road men responded with some intent and dominated the last fifteen minutes of the first half. The Derry back row of Stephen Corr, Johnny Lyons and Richard Baird owned the breakdown and with Sam Duffy and Man of the Match Peter McFeely carrying ball at every opportunity it gave Jack Caithness a freehand to look very lively and link with his backline.
Derry were building some momentum with out half Mark Robinson playing well in his first start for Derry. Derry setup a series of attacks with their forwards well on top on thirty four minutes. Derry had a scrum which Richard Baird picked and drove from 20 meters out supported by Lyons, McFeely and Duffy carried ruck ball forward and Caithness pounced on quick ball to feed Baird who sidestepped a tackler to touch down for a try and with Neil Burns converting Derry were in front by 7pts to 3pts a score line they carried to the break.
The second half started with Derry in all out attack mode, centres Josh Lewis and Neil Burns released winger Phil Duffy on two minutes as he chipped the ball forward to touch down for a try which was ruled a knock on by the referee. Derry attacked from the kick off through full back Andrew Semple and Jack Hargan down the left wing. Derry setup a series of 5 meter scrums which they dominated and when the Quins wing forward tried to kick the ball out of the scrum coming in from the side, the referee awarded a penalty try and with Burns converting Derry were in front by 14pts to 3pts.
Derry were well on top now with Peter McFeely turning over ball for fun supported by Cathal Cregan and Gareth Beatty. Ross Scott came on after twenty four minutes but was unluckily sin binned a few minutes later. Derry went to the bench again on 27 minute bringing on Stephen Jefferson and Jason Mitchell who helped keep the momentum going for the North West Men as McFeely carried ball at every opportunity. Tiernan Thornton and Mario Giacomoni came on to make their Derry debuts on thirty five minutes.
Derry were looking home and hosed as they entered injury time as Quins had one last throw of the dice. Good forward play from the Belfast men saw Daryl Marshall touch down for a try after four minutes of injury time and when Cambridge converted Derry were still in front by 14pts to 10pts. Derry kicked off and Quins kept the ball alive as they went through the last play of the game to eventually work and extra man on the left side on the half way line. That man was winger Kyle Adams who sprinted 50 meters to touch down for an unconverted try in the corner for the winning score and steal the game for Harlequins.
City of Derry RFC Team V Harlequins : Gareth Beattie, Cathal Cregan, Sam Duffy, Chris Cooper, Paul McFeely, Stephen Corr, Jonny Lyons, Richard Baird, Jack Caithness, Mark Robinson, Jack Hargan, Neil Burns, Josh Lewis, Phil Duffy, Andrew Semple. Replacements: Jason Mitchell, Stephen Jefferson, Ross Scott, Mario Giacomoni, Tiernan Thornton.
