Ulster Senior Cup S/Final Saturday 16th November @ Judges Road
City of Derry RFC 15pts Ballynahinch 23pts Match Report by; Moss Dineen
City of Derry Rugby Club welcomed Ballynahinch to Judges Road on Saturday last for the Ulster Cup S/Final with the prize at stake a place in the final at Ravenhill on Wednesday 11th December against Queens who also defeated Banbridge at the weekend by 21pts to 7pts.
The weather conditions on Saturday at Judgers Road deteriorated markedly once the game got underway with incessant rain throughout driven across the field by a strong breeze. The standard of play and commitment from both teams despite the conditions was impressive throughout as the game ebbed and flowed and the result was in doubt until the final whistle. Richard McCarter was a late cry off just before the game and Neil Burns replaced him at No 10 with Adam Parke coming onto the bench.
Derry started the game with a nice rhythm and flow to their play and were rewarded early on four minutes when Adam Bratton made a strong break down the left side of the field and passed to the mercurial Simon Logue who skinned two men before being stopped. Neil Burns switched play right to find full back William McCleery in full flight who released right winger Josh Lewis who cleverly beat the last man to touch down in the corner for an excellent team try. Neil Burns converted and Derry were in front by 7pts to nil.
The game was now well and truly in full flow with total commitment from both teams as they went at each other as if their lives depended upon it. Derry were playing well but were caught on twelve minutes as they moved the ball along their back line when experienced centre and Captain of Ballynahinch Stuart Morrow intercepted and found his fellow centre Jordan Gratton on his shoulder with a pass out the back door to run in for a try and when full back Richie Lobb converted it was 7pts all.
The Hinch gained in confidence and their off loading game was a joy to watch as they produced on sixteen minutes. The Co Down men won a line out against the throw 30 meters out and Morrow again combined with out half Harry McAleese to allow substitute Toby Manus touch down for a try and when Lobb converted Hinch were in front by 14pts to 7pts. Derry were working hard to regain control with David Houston Stephen Corr along with their back row of Stephen Dickey, Stephen Corr and the powerful Richard Baird were playing at the top of their game against an experienced Hinch pack.
Derry stifled a sustained Hinch attack on their line on twenty minutes when their front row of Stephen Jefferson, David Ferguson and Sam Duffy produced heroics to turn over ball and allow scrum half Andrew Semple to clean his line. Neil Burns produced a piece of magic on the half way line shortly afterwards when he chipped three players and confidently tried to repeat the feat one more time but unfortunately ran out of space.
The interpretation around the tackle area at the breakdown was frustrating as it has been on many occasions during the season. Derry were penalised for a shoulder tackle on twenty five minutes and lost Stephen Ferguson to the bin, Lobb kicked the resultant penalty from 30 meters and Hinch were in front by 17pts to 7pts. Derry were down to thirteen men on thirty minutes when Stephen Jefferson was also dismissed to the bin for a breakdown infringement. Derry worked hard and survived to the break without conceding again.
The weather had deteriorated further as the second half started but Derry were on top and Burns kicked a great penalty form 40 meters after two minutes and the Judges men were behind by 17pts to 10pts. Lobb kicked a penalty on eleven minutes for Hinch from 30 meters after Derry went off side at the breakdown and the lead was 20pts to 10pts. The Judges Road men suffered a setback a minute later when they lost second row David Houston with an ankle injury but Paul McFeely replaced him to make an immediate impression.
Derry had the territorial advantage now and Simon Logue, the rejuvenated William McCleery, Adam Bratton and Josh Lewis always looked dangerous. Derry won a kickable penalty 30 meters out on eighteen minutes but elected to kick for touch. David Ferguson found Richard Baird beautifully in the line out 10 meters out and a powerful forward drive with the backs joining in saw David Ferguson touch down for an unconverted try and the Judges Road men were right back in the game at 20pts to 15pts down.
The game was in the balance throughout the final quarter of the game as the Derry scrum were well on top with Sam McAuley on giving the outstanding Stephen Jefferson and Sam Duffy great support. Both teams had chances to clinch the result but great defence created stalemate. Ballynahinch finally clinched their appearance in the Cup Final in the last minute of the game when Richie Lobb kicked a great penalty from 40 meters to end a terrific performance from both teams.
City of Derry RFC Team V Ballynahinch: Stephen Jefferson, David Ferguson, Sam Duffy, David Houston(Capt), Stephen Corr, Richard Baird, Stephen Dickey. Stephen Ferguson, Andrew Semple, Neil Burns, Simon Logue, Adam Bratton, Josh Lewis, Ryan Campbell, William McCleery. Replacements: Sam McAuley, Paul McFeely, Gareth Beatty, Jack Caithness, Adam Parke.
