City of Derry RFC 35pts, Banbridge 24pts
Match Report by; Moss Dineen
City of Derry Rugby Club entertained Banbridge at home on Saturday last in the Ulster Senior League and gave their supporters an early Christmas Present of five converted try’s in a first half display of sparkling rugby. Banbridge were down by thirty points at the half time break but increased their tally with three try’s in the second half to come away with a try bonus point. The two teams meet again in the All Ireland League on the 25th of January at Banbridge in what should be another great game.
The conditions were arctic at Judges Road on Saturday which a cross field wind that gave Derry the slight advantage in the first half. Banbridge started the better after a Derry mistake from the kick off and a sustained period of pressure gave them a penalty shot on five minutes but their out half Shandon Scott was wide.
Derry got their hands on the ball eventually and with that control of the game which they maintained for virtually the remainder of the half. The Derry scrum was solid as usual with Gareth Beatty, Cathal Crgan and Sam Duffy doing the business at scrum time and carrying ball when the opportunity arose. Paul McFeely and Chris Cooper were complementing each others play in the second row with Cooper dominating the airways in the lineout. The set piece was the foundation for Derry’s good play with their outstanding back row of Stephen Corr, Richard Baird and Stephen Ferguson dominating the breakdown and threatening to make that vital break at anytime.
Beatty, McFeely and Cooper setup quick ball for scrum half Jack Caithness on fifteen minutes and out half Andy Semple linked with Neil Burns to make a great break. Burns found Stephen Corr on his shoulder to score a wing forwards try which Burns converted to give the home side a 7pts to nil lead. Derry were back for more on twenty minutes when Burns pounced on a Banbridge mistake on the half way line and hacked the ball forward. Winger Jack Hargan was alert to the opportunity and he was on the ball a quick as a flash to chip forward and touch by the posts for an opportunists try and with Burns converting Derry lead by 14pts to nil.
Derry were firing on all cylinders now and centre Adam Bratton and winger Stephen Brennan combined to give Sam Duffy ball to carry into the Banbridge half. Duffy offloaded to Richard Baird on the run who had the Bann defence in disarray as he found Caithness to allow Andy Semple to produce an exquisite side step and score by the posts,Burns converted for a 21pts to nil advantage. Cathal Cregan was unluckily sin binned for a deliberate knock on after thirty minutes and Banbridge capitalised immediately. They worked an 8 9 move from a scrum and Johnny Graham found scrum half Lee Stenson who passed to Hugo Harbinson on a switch move to touch down for an unconverted try and the score was 21pts to 5pts.
Derry produced two quick try’s to finish the half in style, first on thirty nine minutes Chris Cooper won line out ball 22 meters out and a powerful forward drive took play to the Banbridge line. Jack Caithness was on hand when the ball was put to ground to pickup and dive over the line and touch down, Burns converted for a 28pts to 5pts lead. Derry were back form the kick off when Stephen Ferguson took ball forward in a powerful run with men hanging off him he passed to Andrew Semple on the half way line, The confident Semple broke forward and drew the last man as he fixed him with a stare to nonchalantly pop a pass without looking to Simon Logue outside him at full speed to run in for a great try and Burns converted for a half time lead of 35pts to 5pts.
Banbridge had the wind advantage in the second half and were soon on the attack but great defence from Gareth Beatty, Paul McFeely and Cathal Cregan stemmed the tide. Bann got their forwards into the game when they kicked a penalty to touch on fifteen minutes and a driving maul gave their No8 Jonny Graham the chance to touch down for a try and Scott converted to reduce Derry’s lead to 35pts to 12pts. Derry Coach Mark Nicholls went to the bench for the enforcer and brought on Bob McKillop who immediately imposed himself on the game at the breakdown and carrying ball out of defence. Derry were guilty of miss tackling on twenty minutes when winger Hugo Harbinson was allowed to run across the midfield defence to touch down for an unconverted try in the corner and Derry ‘s lead was 35pts to 17pts. Derry brought on Jonny Lyons and Ross Scott as the half progressed as Banbridge came knocking for another try.
The Derry defence was magnificent as sustained pressure saw Chris Cooper and Bob McKillop combine to turnover possession and Man of the Match Jack Caithness kicked clear on twenty five minutes. Andy Semple was having an outstanding game at out half as he brought his forwards and backs into the game at every opportunity. City of Derry Coaches would have been happy with their defence and their work rate as Banbridge were kept at bay. Mark Robinson and Jason Mitchell came on for Derry and brought fresh legs to the fray. Banbridge eventually got a deserved bonus point try on the stroke of full time when Peter Cromie got in for a try which Scott converted to leave the final score 35pts to 24pts and a deserved Derry victory. Derry’s next home game is Rainey in the Ulster Senior League this Saturday
City of Derry RFC Team V Banbridge; Gareth Beattie, Cathal Cregan, Sam Duffy, Chris Cooper, Paul McFeely, Stephen Corr, Richard Baird, Stephen Ferguson, Jack Caithness, Andrew Semple, Jack Hargan, Neil Burns, Adam Bratton, Stephen Brennan, Simon Logue. Replacements: Jason Mitchell, Jonny Lyons, Ross Scott, Bob McKillop, Mark Robinson.
