Highfield 21pts , City of Derry RFC 13pts
City of Derry Rugby Club’s recent run of form came to an end on the Banks of the Lee, Cork on Saturday when they were beaten by a determined Highfield performance that swept them to a deserved victory. They Cork men came into the game on a five match losing run and with their Coaching Staff resigning last Tuesday a victory was needed to stop the rot and guarantee AIL Division 2A rugby next season. Their players had taken over preparation of the team and this produced a galvanised level of performance that Derry could not match and with their out half Paddy O’Toole giving a Man of the Match performance the Judges Road men were unable to produce their recent outstanding rugby.
Derry started impressively with some decent attacking play as they tried to unlock the home defence but Highfield weathered the early storm and eventually cleared their lines. The Cork men played themselves out of defence with strong driving play from their big pack. There were early warning signs as they picked and drove a couple of times straight through the ruck to make big inroads into the Derry half. The pressure told with just six minutes gone when they once again got possession on the Derry 22 meter line. This time prop forward Paddy Ryan caught Derry sleeping at a ruck as he picked up and ran in for a try and with Paddy O’Toole converting Highfield lead by 7pts to nil.
Derry looked reasonably confident as they got over the initial setback and they got some decent possession. This was rewarded with a penalty from Richard McCarter on twelve minutes when he converted a penalty for offside from 35 meters to make it 7pts to 3pts for Highfield. The try of the game came from Derry on nineteen minutes when they were well on top and playing some attractive rugby. Derry won a penalty and found touch 30 meters out from the Highfield line. David Houston won possession and scrum half Jack Caithness found McCarter 35 meters out, he chipped the defence beautifully and when Richard Baird collected he drew the last man to give his wing forward Tom Patton a run in try under the posts and with McCarter converting Derry were ahead by 10pts to 7 pts.
That Derry try and the manner of its execution would have been a setback for most teams but Highfield were not fazed and came back in determined fashion. They increased their physicality and were rewarded with another penalty from O’Toole on twenty two minutes to level the scores at 10pts all. It was all possession and pressure from Highfield now and it took a brave crunching tackle from Ryan Campbell on thirty minutes to drive their big second row Kelly into touch just short of the Derry line when a try looked a certainty and it keep the score 10pts each at half time.
Highfield regained the lead with a penalty from O’Toole with five minutes gone in the second half and the home team were ahead by 13pts to 10pts. City of Derry coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair went to the bench and brought David Witherow and Gareth Beattie into the front row and Stephen Ferguson to the second row. Derry were now on top in the set pieces but the turning point in the game came on eleven minutes. The Judges Road men won a penalty just inside their own half which was reversed for over robust play on the infringing Highfield player.
Highfield kicked for touch and setup a series of attacks inside the Derry 22 and with everyone expecting a move to the open side they switched play blind and found a mismatch to score an unconverted try in the corner for an 18pts to 10pts lead. Derry lost Peter Henderson with a hamstring injury and he was replaced by Richard Peoples. Derry reduced the deficit again after nineteen minutes when McCarter kicked a penalty from 25 meters and Highfield’s lead was 18pts to 13pts.
Derry upped their game and were producing some strong attacking play but they were thwarted by a determined Highfiled defence and some unforced errors when chances were available. Highfield lost their winger Quaid to the sin bin on twenty two minutes and it looked like a real opportunity for Derry to capitalise. Highfiled cut down and space out wide and tackled as if their lives depended on it. Derry were probably guilty of going wide too often and too early and in the process quality possession came to nothing.
Cathal Cregan came on at hooker and continued Derry’s domination at scrum time. Highfield survived the sin bin without conceding and one felt Derry’s chance of victory was gone especially when O’Toole kicked another penalty on thirty two minutes to take Highfiled’s lead to 21pts to 13pts which they carried to the full time and deny Derry a loosing bonus point.
City of Derry Team V Highfield; Steven Jefferson, Sam McCauley, Paul McFeely, David Houston, Brian Prue, Stephen Corr, Tom Patton, Richard Baird, Jack Caithness, Richard McCarter, William McCleery, David Funston, Chris Barber, Ryan Campbell, Peter Henderson. Replacements; Cathal Cregan, David Witherow, Gareth Beattie, Stephen Ferguson, Richard Peoples.
City of Derry RFC 2nd XV 30pts, Dungannon 2nd XV 12pts
City of Derry 2nd XV produced an outstanding display of attacking rugby at Judges Road on Saturday last as they ran out convincing winners in their Towns Cup quarter final fixture against Dungannon. Derry came from seven points behind early on to eventually win 30ptd to 12pts.
In near perfect conditions at Judges Road it was Dungannon who dominated the early play and were rewarded on 10 minutes when poor Derry defence at a ruck 10 metres from their line allowed the Dungannon scrum half to break and score a try under the posts. The conversion was a formality and they led 7ptd to nil.
Derry produced strong pressure on 15 minutes and forced Dungannon to concede a penalty and out half Adam Parke slotted the kick to reduce the deficit to 7pts to 3pts. Dungannon had a couple more opportunities to score but great defence from Derry kept them at bay. The Judges Road men were now getting into their stride and the remainder of the half was closely contested. Adam Parke added his second penalty for Derry from 30 metres on the half hour mark to bring the score to 7pts to 6pts..
With 5 minutes to go to the break a poor clearance kick from Derry was fielded by the ’Gannon winger who moved the ball cross field. Inept tackling from Derry allowed them to score an unconverted try and leave the half time score at 12-6 in Dungannon’s favour.
Immediately from the restart a good break by Phil Duffy took play deep into the Dungannon half and when he was tackled Dungannon were caught offside at the ruck and again Parke struck the resultant penalty between the uprights from 35 metres to leave it 12pts to 9pts for Dungannon..
Derry were now getting some decent possession with Rodney Balfour, Ross Harkin and Sam Duffy domination at scrum time. They were well supported by second rowers Adam McDuff and the evergreen Bob McKillop.. The early Dungannon enthusiasm and dominance was beginning to subside as the Derry back row of Johnny Lyons, Ross Scott & Mark Walker were winning the battle of the breakdown. Mark Walker at open side wing forward was playing his first game for some time, he became involved in everything that was good about Derry’s play and added that edge which had been missing in previous performances.
Mid way through the second half Derry moved the ball from a ruck 15 metres out and No 8 Ross Scott hit a great line to score a try by the posts. Parke added the extras and Derry took the lead for the first time at 16pts to 12pts.
The momentum of the game had now changed in Derry’s favour and Adam Parke was orchestrating play from out half. Centres Gary Boyle and John Laverty made a number of good breaks supported by wingers Robbie Logue and Adam Blair. Fullback David Murdock showed great pace when coming into the line and was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet.
The introduction of replacements Steven Brennan for the injured Laverty, and hooker Steven Duffy (which brought the compliment of Duffy brothers in the team to 3) was seamless and Derry continued to dominate the game. On the half hour mark winger Adam Blair made a break and kicked ahead, Johnny Lyons was on hand to gather the bouncing ball and score beneath the posts. Parke again converted and the lead was now 23pts to 12pts in Derry’s favour.
With just minutes remaining Derry were putting pressure on Dungannon and when Phil Duffy spotted a gap at the edge of a ruck, he rounded off a great second half performance by scampering in for a try again converted by Parke to leave the final score 30pts to 12pts.
After a slow start this was a good all round Derry performance. The pack, where McKillop & Walker were outstanding, set the platform for the backs. Out half Adam Parke varied the play, Phil Duffy had a great second half and centre Gary Boyle made a number of breaks and set a good target for the pack. ‘Man of the Match’ winger Adam Blair was outstanding in defence and attack.
Derry now go into the Semi Final draw with Omagh, Enniskillen and Ballyclare with the fixtures to be played on Saturday16th March.
City of Derry Team: Rodney Balfour, Ross Harkin, Sam Duffy, Bo McKillop, Adam McDuff, Johnny Lyons, Mark Walker, Ross Scott, Phil Duffy, Adam Parke, Robbie Logue, Gary Boyle, John Laverty, Adam Blair, David Murdock. Replacements; Steven Brennan, Steven Duffy
