Malone Rugby Club were City of Derry’s latest opponents in the Ulster Senior League at Gibson Park, Belfast on Saturday last. Both teams scored three tries but City of Derry finished the stronger and added a late penalty from full back Peter Henderson to keep their unbeaten start to the league campaign intact. Following two comprehensive victories in their first two league fixtures against Ards and Rainey Derry now find themselves four points clear at the top of the Ulster League Table.
This was Derry’s first test against All Ireland League Division 1 opposition this season and they were not fazed as they continued their quick attacking rugby that had rhythm and flow with style and panache. Malone had beaten Derry at Judges Road in their second last AIL Division 2A game of the season just past on their way to winning the League and promotion. This game on Saturday was going to be the benchmark as to where the Judges Road men were in their preparation for the coming AIL campaign. The game was a decent evenly matched encounter with Derry probably creating the more chances to win the game.
The game started in Indian summer conditions with the temperature well up the 20’s and it was all Derry from the start. Derry attacked towards the city end and following two strong forward drives on the left, they spread quick ball to the right wing and a try looked a certainty but William McCleery was pulled down just short and the danger was cleared. Derry were back on the attack on four minutes when prop Paul McFeely produced a great drive smashing through three defenders in the process. McFeely found Richard Baird five meters out and the pack drove him over the line but unfortunately the ball was not grounded and from the attacking scrum Malone managed to clear and again survive.
The Derry front five had the better of the scrummaging all through the afternoon with Chris Sields, Cathal Creggan and Paul McFeely in the front row supported by Brian Prue and Chris Cooper in the second row. Paul McFeely had an outstanding game in the set piece and in open play., He worked hard at the breakdown and had to go off with an injury for a time but came back on to perform fantastically in the second row.
Malone got themselves into the game with some decent possession and were well on top at the mid point of the first half. They were undone on 22 minutes as they attacked along the line inside the Derry half. Strong tackling from centres David Funston and Ryan Campbell created turnover ball and Simon Logue the deadly poacher picked up and sprinted 60 meters to nonchalantly touch down between the posts. Richard Peoples converted and it was 7pts to nil to the Judges Road men.
Rolling subs Steven Duffy and Adam Parke came on, Parke had an outstanding game with a terrific work rate, tackling everything that moved and kicking intelligently. Steven Jefferson came on for McFeely and Gaerth Beattie (Shiner) made his return to the team after his summer break and relished every challenge in the tight and loose after he came on for the injured Ross Scott.
The first have finished in a whirlwind of attacking play, firstly Derry lost possession cheaply in the Malone half on thirty seven minutes and in a flowing attacking move involving several players prop David Haliday touch down for a try and with Josh Pentland converting it was 7pts all. Derry won a penalty from the kick off and Parke kicked into the 22 for an attacking line out as half time approached. Brian Prue won clean ball and scrum half Jack Caithness found Parke who offloaded to David Funston to get in for a captains try and with Peter Henderson converting Derry lead 14pts to 7pts at the break.
Chris Barber came on in the centre on his return from injury as Funston went off with a knock to the elbow. The early second half pressure saw Malone well on top. The pressure from the Gibson Park men finally told on twelve minutes when they worked an overlap and full back Taylor Acheson got in for an unconverted try and Derry’s lead was 14pts to 12pts. Barber unfortunately injured the same shoulder that has kept him out for the last few games and Funston replaced him. Derry stole possession from the kick off and Jack Caithness produced a magical run that almost saw a try, Derry got quick ball from the breakdown and Richard Peoples found David Funston to beat two men to touch down for an unconverted try that sealed a Man of the Match performance and Derry again lead by 19pts to 12pts.
Malone got their time in the game again with centres Michael Barker and Josh Pentland getting more possession. Winger David Irvine got in for a try on twenty two minutes following good play from half backs Shane Kelly and Shandon Scott and with Pentland converting it was anybody’s game at 19pts all.
Considering the heat and humidity and exhaustion from both teams you would have expected the game to fizzle out to an honourable draw. That was not good enough for this Derry Squad as drawing would have been the same as defeat. They upped their performances throughout the team and finished the strongest as their levels of fitness were tested and not found wanting. Tom Patton who had a great game all afternoon and Richard Baird became more prominent as Derry attacked and on thirty two minutes it looked like they were rewarded but unfortunately Richard People missed with a penalty shot.
Derry came right back from the drop out and great forward driving play from McFeely, Beattie, Shields and Cooper took play back inside the Malone 22. The constant pressure of attacks from Derry saw Malone holding on the ground and Peter Henderson converted the resultant penalty on thirty seven minutes. Malone never got back into the Derry half again as the final score of 22pts to 19pts saw a deserved win for City of Derry Coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair. Derry have a home fixture against Instonians at Judges Road next Saturday that should see them retaining their position as league leaders.
City of Derry Team V Malone; Chris Shields, Cathal Creggan, Paul McFeely, Brian Prue, Chris Cooper, Ross Scott, Tom Patton, Richard Baird, Jack Caithness, Richard Peoples, Simon Logue, Ryan Campbell, David Funston, William McCleery, Peter Henderson. Replacements; Steven Jefferson, Steven Duffy, Gareth Beattie, Adam Parke, Chris Barber.
