City of Derry RFC 32pts, MU Barnhall RFC 20pts.
City of Derry RFC got their Season of to the perfect start when they recorded a five try bonus point victory away to Barnhall last Saturday. Derry have had some close encounters with the Kildare men in the past that have gone either way but when the Judges Road men were 22pts to nil in front at the break and then scored another try within three minutes of the restart it looked game over. Barnhall had other ideas and put in a barnstorming second half display to come within one score of Derry with nine minutes to go. There was incessant pressure on the Derry line for the remainder of the game but an intercept from Andrew Semple one meter out from his own line saw him sprint the length of the field to seal victory.
It was a beautiful dry sunny day for rugby on Saturday and Barnhall had the advantage of the strong crossfield breeze in the first half. Derry came out of the traps like caged animals with all guns blazing and almost scored within a couple of minutes when the Omagh 2 combined, full back Ali Beckett made the initial break up the right wing and he passed to winger Neil Brown who showed great pace and was just bundled into touch 5 meters short of the line. It was all Derry pressure as Barnhall even with the strong breeze struggled to get out of their half.
The Derry back row of Steven Dickey, John Burns and Stephen Corr were dominating the breakdown and carrying ball at every opportunity. John Burns was on fire and on six minutes his powerful drive from halfway to the 22 sucked in a few defenders and he found scrum half Andrew Semple in support who released winger Neil Brown to score by the posts and Neil Burns converted to give Derry a 7pts to Nil lead.
The Derry scrum was impressive all through with Chris Shields, Cathal Creggan and Sam Duffy having the better of their opposition and with Chris Cooper dominating the lineouts supported by Adam Bratton the set piece for Derry was secure. John Burns repeated his heroics again on sixteen minutes with a replica drive to the Barnhall 22 this time Beckett was in support to cut through and pass inside to Neil Burns who touched down between the posts and he converted himself for a 14pts to nil lead. The Burns Boys were putting their mark on this game with intent.
The Derry back three of Simon Logue, Ali Beckett and Neil Brown were electric and supported by centres Stuart Simpson who had a great first half and David Graham scores looked on anytime they attacked. Logue was almost in for a try but was stopped short and then Beckett almost put his name on the scoreboard as well. It was all Derry pressure and Barnhall were firefighting to survive as they lost two men in quick succession to the sin bin.
Barnhall eventually got their hands on the ball and got some time in the game on the half hour mark. Continual pressure on the Derry line for almost ten minutes saw complete honesty, trust and commitment in the tackle from every Derry player to a man as the referee awarded four penalties in quick succession. The Derry pack fronted up to five scrums on their own line. The reward eventually was turnover ball 5 meters out and a try from the gods for Derry. The ball was moved quickly out of defence by Neil Burns who made a great break down the right touchline and when the tackler arrived on the half way line he looped a miracle pass over his head inside to David Graham who had a free run to the line to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try and Derry were in front by 19pts to nil.
Craig Huey was on for Dickey as half time was drawing close. Ali Beckett was almost in for another try but Barnhall gave away a penalty trying to stop him. Neil Burns kicked the resultant penalty and Derry’s lead was 22pts to nil.
Derry started the second half in fine style with a scrum just inside the Barnhall half. Stephen Corr who gave a Man of the Match performance picked up at No 8 and drove forward, he then passed outside to winger Neil Brown who ran in from 40 meters to touch down for a try in the corner and Derry’s lead was 27pts to nil and it looked like game over. David Funston was on for Stuart Simpson and with rolling substitutions Graham Murphy, Stephen Duffy and Corey Logan were all used as the game wore on.
Barnhall had made two changes at half time that were to change the course of the game. Simon Gillespie came on at out half and Paul Nalty came into the back row and their impact evolved slowly as they cut their mistakes that they made in the first half from their play. Derry struggled to get their hands on the ball and when they did they were unable to hold on to it for long enough. A simple pickup from a scrum by Barnhall No 8 Tom McKeown on fifty five minutes and an unconverted try saw Barnhall on the scoreboard at 27pts to 5pts down.
Five minutes later and bad tackling allowed Barnhall second row Conor McDermott dotted down for a try and when Gillespie converted and it was 27pts to 12pts. It was all Barnhall now and Gillespie kicked a penalty on seventy minutes and Brian Hennebby got over for a try on seventy five minute when Gillespie converted it was game on and Derry’s lead was down to 27pts to 20pts. Derry lost Andrew Semple to the sin bin just before Hennebby scored.
It was all out attack from Barnhall but outstanding tackling for Derry kept their line intact. It was penalty after penalty for Barnhall as the pressure mounted. It was tap and go, tap and go from Barnhall and well into injury time they tried once again as they threw a cut out pass to their winger on the touchline but there seemed to be a miraculous apparition from Andrew Semple coming back from the sin bin as he appeared from nowhere to intercept and touch down for a try at the other end of the ground to leave the final score 32pts to 20pts for Derry.
The traveling support were excited by their teams performance and can’t wait for next Saturday’s AIL game at home to Bective who defeated Highfield at Donnybrook by 28pts to 27pts securing a bonus point victory.
City of Derry RFC Team V MU Barnhall; Chris Shields, Cathal Creggan, Sam Duffy, Adam Bratton, Chris Cooper, Steven Dickey, John Burns(Capt), Stephen Corr, Andrew Semple, Neil Burns, Simon Logue, Stuart Simpson, David Graham, Neil Brown, Ali Beckett. Replacements; Graham Murphy, Stephen Duffy, Craig Huey, Corey Logan, David Funston.
