City of Derry Rugby Club completed their first campaign in All Ireland League Division 2A with defeat away to Queens at Upper Malone, Belfast on Saturday last. The students ran out convincing winners in the end by five try’s to two with the result in the balance at half time when they lead was only 10pts to 7. Queens despite their bonus point victory were pipped for the second place league finish and promotion to AIL Division 1B next season by Malone who ran out convincing winners against Seapoint by 63pts to nil.
City of Derry has had a good season following two promotions over the previous two years and will have gained invaluable experience back in AIL 2 once again. It was important for the club to consolidate their position at this level and build for a tilt at promotion next season. Derry had gone ten games unbeaten prior to their last two AIL fixtures against Malone and Queens and had put themselves in with a chance of promotion despite an indifferent start to their league campaign. The ironic thing about their finish to the season was if they had won their last two fixtures with bonus points they would have also won promotion to AIL Division 1A.
The conditions were perfect for rugby on Saturday with a beautiful sunny spring day. Derry were quick out of the blocks as the game started with a speed and tempo from both teams that attack attack was going to be the order of the day. The first score was not long coming when Simon Logue turned over possession on seven minutes in his own half when he won a penalty for not releasing. Derry Scrum Half Andrew Semple took a quick penalty and made an incisive break and when the ball reached full back Peter Henderson it was try time as he touched down between the posts and with Richard McCarter converting Derry lead by 7pts to nil.
Queens came storming back at Derry but outstanding defense from Chris Barber, Adam Bratton, Stephen Corr and especially David Funston thwarted their best efforts. The students eventually got in for a score when their impressive out half James McKinney created space for his captain Paul Karayiannis to run in for a try from 20 meters which McKinney converted to level the scores at 7pta all. The game became fragmented as both teams came close to scoring on a number of occasions but mistakes abounded with the only other score before half time was a penalty from McKinney which left Queens leading by 10pts to 7pts at the break.
Queens were soon on top in the second half and a good break by full back Quinn setup winger McIlwayne for an unconverted try after ten minutes. This was followed on seventeen minutes by another nice inside pass by James McKinney to his other winger McCauley for another unconverted try and Queens lead was 20pts to 7pts. McKinney and McCauley repeated the same move on twenty five minutes and this time McKinney converted and extended Queens lead to 27pts to 7pts.
Derry to their credit upped their game and responded with real spirit and commitment Chris Shields, Captain Sam McAuley and Sam Duffy were dominating at scrum time and in the loose ably supported by David Houston and Bob McKillop who had replaced Chris Cooper due to injury in the first half. The Derry back row of Mark Walker, Richard Baird and Stepehn Corr were winning the battle at the breakdown and getting some quality possession. Derry had a number of chances to reduce the arrears but over eagerness lead to inaccuracy in their play and a number of clear cut opportunities went a begging.
Derry had brought on Brian Prue, Stepehn Duffy, Richard Peoples and William McCleery as the game progressed. Brian Prue and Stephen Duffy along with McCleery combined to turn over scrappy ball in their own half as the game entered its final stages and when they released David Funston he ran 60 meters to outstrip the Queens defense and score a great try which Richard Peoples converted and Queens lead was down to 27pts to 14pts. Queens had the final say on the stroke of full time when their forwards got in for an unconverted try to leave the final score 32pts to 14pts and victory for the students.
It was quiet an emotional day all round last Saturday as City of Derry Head Coach Bevan Lynch took charge for the last time before he returns to New Zealand. Bevan took over in charge for the season 2008-2009 after City of Derry had been relegated to Junior Rugby from All Ireland Division 3 the previous season. His four years at the helm has resulted in the most successful period in the history of the club. He has created a squad of players who are connected to one another, the club and are all local boys of the community. The club in the interim period has returned to the amateur ethos of the game and Bevan has left a legacy that has firm foundation which can be taken forward by incoming Head Coach Mark Nicholl who has worked side by side with Bevan for the last four years.
The list of successes which City of Derry RFC has achieved with Bevan Lynch as Head Coach is as follows;
Winners; Ulster Qualifying League, 2009, 2010
Ulster Towns Cup & Junior Cup 2009, McCambley Cup 2009, 2010
All Ireland Junior Cup 2010, Promotion to All Ireland League 3 2010
All Ireland League Division 3 Champions 2011, Ulster Senior Cup Finalists 2011
City of Derry Team V Queens; Chris Shields, Sam McAuley, Sam Duffy, David Houston, Chris Cooper, Stephen Corr, Mark Walker, Richard Baird, Andrew Semple, Richard Peoples, Simon Logue, David Funston, Chris Barber, Adam Bratton, Peter Henderson. Replacements; Stephen Duffy, Bob McKillop, Brian Prue, Richard Peoples, William McCleery..
