City of Derry Rugby Club continued their winning return to senior rugby with another comfortable victory in the Ulster Senior League over a very disappointing Instonians team at Judges Road on Saturday last. Seamus Mallon former City of Derry, Northampton and Ulster player and now player and backs coach with Instonians had an invidious return home which saw his team comprehensively outplayed in every facet of the game and culminating in a personal sin bin offence half way through the second half.
The weather conditions were atrocious at Judges Road with incessant rain all morning and throughout the game. Derry were without their captain Sam McAuLey, Chris Shields, Bob McKillop, Philip Brady, Tom Patton, Richard McCarter, Rudi Moore and Josh Lewis but their absence did little to dampen the spirit and enthusiasm of this young outfit. The difference between this City of Derry Squad and the team that was relegated three seasons ago is that they now have got 30 players capable of playing All Ireland Rugby compared to about 10 players in the past.
Derry confirmed their intent early in this encounter when their forwards dominated from the off, David Houston and Chris Cooper were imperious in the line our thanks to accurate throwing by Stephen Duffy at hooker. Sam Duffy and David Witherow not only produced a solid go forward scrum but their support play in the loose was outstanding and gave a lead to a busy powerful back row of Stephen Corr, Stephen Ferguson and Stephen Simms.
Derry were on the scoreboard on 15 minutes when after sustained forward pressure and quick ruck ball scrum half Andrew Semple found full back Peter Henderson with a miss pass who sprinted in for a try to right of the posts and Richard Peoples converted to give his team a 7pts to nil lead. It was all Derry possession and three minutes later Chris Cooper won line out ball off the top on the half way line, Semple picked out Richard Peoples who made a telling bread to the Instonians 22 and passed to his centre Ryan Campbell who drove past two tacklers to score by the posts with Peoples converting for a 14 point lead.
City of Derry were clinical in their finishing and on 20 minutes an Instonians scrum outside their own 22 saw possession turned over, Man of the Match Richard Peoples again made the incisive break and let No 8 Stephen Ferguson show power and pace to score a try between the posts for Peoples to add the conversion for a 21 point lead. The final score of the first half came on 35 minutes when a 5 metre line out saw Derry win possession and Semple passed to Stephen Simms to twist over the line for a try to claim a bonus point and with Peoples again converting; Derry had a 28pts to nil half time lead.
The weather conditions deteriorated further in the second half and Derry were happy to contain any Instonians pressure. Derry lost Chris Cooper for the remainder of the game after 10 minutes for an off the ball incident and Instonians lost Seamus Mallon to the sin bin after 25 minutes. Derry had the final say in the game on 35 minutes when wing Simon Logue made the break to setup Ryan Campbell for his second try which Peoples converted for an impressive 35pts to nil victory.
City of Derry Coach Bevan Lynch said after the game “we showed all the physicality up front today and that was pleasing considering the absence of out two most experienced units Sam McAuley and Bob McKillop. Our front row of Sam and Stephen Duffy along with David Witherow not only produced a powerful scrum but showed mobility in ball carrying and tackling in the loose. I am happy where we are at with just one more Ulster League game to go next week before we start our All Ireland League Campaign. We have a few injuries and with Richard McCarter out today Richard Peoples showed what an all round footballer he is who can play anywhere in the backline. We now look forward with confidence to our challenges to come”.
City of Derry Team V Instonians: Davy Witherow, Stephen Duffy, Sam Duddy, Chris Cooper, David Houston, Stephen Corr, Stephen Ferguson, Stephen Sims, Andrew Semple, Richard Peoples. William McCleery, Ryan Campbell, David Founston, Simon Logue, Peter Henderson. Replacements: Cathal Creggan, Rodney Balfour, Richard Baird, Nic Donnell, David Smith.
