City of Derry RFC 53pts, Dungannon RFC 17pts
Match Report by; Moss Dineen
City of Derry RFC confirmed their recent superiority over Dungannon at Judges Road on Saturday last in the Ulster Senior League when they ran in eight try’s five of which came in the first half as they led by 34pts to nil at the break. Derry had beaten Dungannon in the All Ireland League by 30pts to 17pts at the beginning of December but this time around there were some thrilling passages of play that bodes well for the three crucial AIL Fixtures over the next three weeks starting as Naas, Co Kildare next Saturday.
The weather was perfect for rugby at Judges Road on Saturday and the early exchanges were even with some scrappy play from both sides and Dungannon missed a kickable penalty on thirteen minute from 30 meters. Derry suddenly clicked into gear on fifteen minutes and the catalyst was centre Stuart Simpson who went on the have his best game ever for City of Derry. Simpson cleaned up loose ball in midfield and drove forward with some intent and when he got in behind the Gannon defence he passed to Andrew Semple who touched down for a try between the post and he converted himself for 7pts to nil lead.
Derry were back on the scoreboard three minutes later when their back row produced, Johnny Lyons and Stephen Corr did the groundwork and Stephen Ferguson made the break out of defence taking out three men. Ferguson passed to winger Johnny Kennedy who made 40 meters down the right wing and fixed the last man before passing to William McCleery inside to touch down by the posts for a great try and with Semple converting Derry were ahead by 14pts to nil and playing well.
Derry were on all out attack mode now and with hooker David Ferguson everywhere he was by far the best player on the pitch. David Ferguson took ball to the heart of the Dungannon defence on twenty two minutes and when Gannon went off side 20 meters out Semple slotted over the resultant penalty and Derry’s lead was 17pts to nil. Ritchie McCarter at out half and Andy Semple at scrum half were controlling the game beautifully and with some great kicking out of hand Dungannon were on the back foot. The Derry scrum was strong all through with Chris Shields, David Ferguson and Sam Duffy on top and well supported by Bob McKillop and David Houston.
Sam Duffy carried ball forward on the half hour mark to just outside the Gannon 22, Duffy found McCarter and he had the vision to see Johnny Lyons running a great line to touch down for a try and when Semple converted Derry’s lead was 24pts to nil. Derry scored two try’s in quick succession before the break, firstly Bob McKillop who was having a great game won ball outside the Gannon 22. Quick ruck ball and Semple to McCarter who again found Lyons who made the incisive break and when he connected with his winger Tiernan Thornton who scored a dream unconverted try on his debut start for the 1st XV. Kennedy almost scored on the stroke of half time but knocked on, he made amends 30 seconds later when he collected a loose defensive kick on the half way line and beat 4 men with a strong run of 40 meters and had the vision to release David Ferguson for an unconverted try to leave Derry in front at the break by 34pts to nil.
Dungannon started the second half strongly and scored a good unconverted try by Andrew Mills. Josh Lewis and Stuart Simpson were strong defensively in the centre with Simpson making some strong carries. Stephen Corr fielded a loose defensive kick beautifully above his head on five minutes and drove forward, Semple was on the ruck ball very quickly and released the ubiquitous David Ferguson to touch down for a try and when Semple converted Derry were 41pts to 5pts in front. Dungannon were playing better than they were in the first half and Gerard Treanor got in for an unconverted try and the score was 41pts to 10pts.
Mark Walker, Stepehn Duffy and Luke Dalton were on for Derry with Walker making an immediate impact. Derry lost Stuart Simpson to the sin bin on twenty minutes and as the game became fractious Chris Shields was also sent to the bin two minutes later. Derry kept their line intact while down to 13 men with great work from McKillop and David Ferguson. Derry won a penalty on thirty six minutes and Walker took a tap and go which caught Dungannon napping as he passed to Semple who strolled in for a try which he converted himself for a 48pts to 10pts lead. Derry finished the game in style when William McCleery got in for a great unconverted try to cap a great personal performance in his last game for Derry before immigrating to Canada next week. Dungannon got a consolation try with the last play of the game from Matthew Montgomery which Jack Milligan converted to leave the final score 53pts to 17pts to Derry. `
City of Derry RFC Team V Dungannon RFC; Chris Shields, David Ferguson, Sam Duffy, Bob McKillop, David Houston, Stephen Corr, Johanathan Lyons, Stephen Ferguson, Andrew Semple, Richard McCarter, Johnny Kennedy, Stuart Simpson, Josh Lewis, Tiernan Thornton, William McCleery. Replacements; Stephen Duffy, Nathan Deeney, Mark Walker, Luke Dalton, Jack Beattie.
