Pictured: City of Derry Captain Sam McAuley presenting a Tie to Tralee Rugby Club President.
City of Derry continued their pre season preparations with a short tour to Munster last weekend. They defeated Thomond in Limerick on Friday night in convincing style when they scored five trys and shocked the locals who were unbeaten at home for over a year. The Thomond faithful were generous in their praise of the style of rugby played by Derry. They were disappointed last season as they felt they were good enough to have won promotion from All Ireland League Division 2.
Thomond started the game on the attack but good defence saw Derry survive the early welcome to Limerick and repel the onslaught. Derry gradually played themselves into the game and on ten minutes Phil Brady got in for a try the product of over twenty phases of play, Richard Peoples converted. The Derry back line were causing problems with Andrew Semple, Jack Caithness at out half and Funston and Logue in the centre, the forwards were producing quality ball through great support play and off loading in the tackle.
Derry went further ahead on fifteen minutes; Funston made a searing break into the Thomon 22 meter line and found Simon Logue to score a converted try by the posts. Derry’s ambition continued and with Semple on fire it was a case of attack, attack and Bob McKillop got in for an unconverted try on 20 minutes after sustained pressure on the Thomomd line. The home side got in for a converted try before the break to leave the half time score 19pts to 7pts in favour of Derry.
Derry were immediately back on the attack after the break with Stephen Corr, Chris McDonnell and Richard Baird taking play to the Thomond 22. Derry won a scrum and Stephen Ferguson produced a No 8 pickup and drive that saw him brush aside three tacklers in a powerful 20 metre run to score a converted try under the posts with just five minutes gone. Thomond had the best of the next 25 minutes when they scored three trys two of which were converted to leave the sides level at 19pts each with ten minutes to go.
The young Derry team were not phased by the Thomond comeback and showed no fear to immediately take the game to the opposition with driving play and support for the ball carrier. With five minutes remaining Richard Peoples made a break from his own half following good play from Philip Duffy, Peoples found Philip Brady who powered forward and passed to Stephen Corr who finished a great move with a converted try between the posts to give Derry a famous victory by 33pts to 26pts and setup a great weekend.
Derry travelled to Kerry on Saturday morning to play Tralee last years Munster Junior League Runners-up behind Richmond. Derry continued from where they left off on Friday night with two early trys from Stephen Duffy and Bob McKillop both converted by Richard Peoples. Tralee got back into the game with two penalties and a converted try to leave a one point game after twenty minutes. Derry increased their lead on 35 minutes when Richard Baird made a fine break before Andrew Semple found Stephen Corr to score a converted try to give Derry a 21pts to 13pts half time lead.
Derry put the game to bed with two Converted trys within the first 10 minutes of the second half from Simon Logue and Jack Caithness. Tralee fought hard and had a ten minute spell of attacking inside the Derry 22. The Derry defence was outstanding and held Tralee up when they got over the line on two occasions. Derry eventually turned over the ball courtesy of a superb tackle by Simon Logue that initiated a flowing move that carried play the length of the filed for Richard Peoples to score a try and convert it himself to give Derry victory by 42pts to 13pts.
