Towns Cup S/Final City of Derry RFC 2nd XV 13pts, Enniskillen 10pts
City of Derry Rugby Club’s 2nd XV produced a heroic team performance on Saturday last at Judges Road when they defeated Enniskillen to progress to the Towns Cup Final on Easter Monday at Ravenhill. They will now play Ballyclare in the final after the Co Antrim men defeated Omagh in the other S/Final by 19pts to 13pts. CLICK HERE for Shots courtesy of Bernard Doherty Prpofessional Digital Photographer – These shots are copyright protected.
The difference between the two sides on Saturday was that Derry took their chances when they came their way and Enniskillen despite the majority of possession lacked vision and awareness of space to unlock a team who tackled as if their lives depended upon it. Derry also had experience in crucial positions with Sam Duffy and Rodney Balfour in the front row and Man of the Match Mark Walker running the show from open side wing forward. Derry also had Adam Parke and Richard Peoples at out half and first centre who both tackled like wing forwards and kicked beautifully out of hand to capitalise on turn over ball.
Derry started in positive mode against a slight breeze on a beautiful day for rugby on Saturday in front of a decent crowd. The early pressure from the home side caught Enniskillen off side on eight minutes. Richard Peoples showed he was on top of his game with a penalty from 40 meters out and just in from the touchline, he sent a clear message to Enniskillen as Derry lead by 3pts to nil.
The next fifteen minutes belonged to Enniskillen as they got into their rhythm with strong scrummaging and good forward caries from Jamie Johnston, Gavin Parke and David Buchannan. Their front row of Felix Quigley, Ryan Cathcart and Jonny Foster were giving as good as they got in a titanic struggle with the experienced Derry front three of Sam Duffy, Ross Harkin and Rodney Balfour. The aggression at the breakdown from Derry was ferocious with Jonny Lyons, James Fawcett, Chris McDonald and Stephen Duffy outstanding.
Derry eventually survived the pressure and on thirty minutes Phil Duffy at scrum half produced a bit of magic when he took the ball from his own half beating three players and kicking forward to chase before Enniskillen scrambled the ball into touch 15 meters out. Derry now consolidated their position in their opponents 22 with Adam Parke and Richard Peoples along with Paddy Blennerhassett and Stephen Brennan all combining to attack the line.
Derry won a penalty on thirty five minutes and kicked for touch 5 meters out, Lyons won the line out and Balfour, Sam and Stephen Duffy and Fawcett drove infield and went for the line. Derry knocked on but turned over ball from a scrum under the posts, Phil Duffy found Parke who moved play right and when Peoples released Adam Blair on the wing he showed great tenacity to beat two cover tacklers and touch down in the corner for a memorable try and with Peoples converting from the touchline Derry lead at half time was 10pts to nil.
Derry got into the Enniskillen half from the kick off to start the second half and when the Skins went off side at the breakdown after three minutes. Richard Peoples gave the home side the perfect start with a penalty from 35 meters out and a 13pts to nil lead. Enniskillen reacted as they threw everything at Derry for the remainder of the game and attacked incessantly. It was a physical battle in the set piece and at the breakdown as both teams gave their all in a thrilling encounter. Kaine Holden and Buchannan along with Jack Harte, Gavin Parke and Jamie Johnston carried ball at the Derry defence but were unable to breakdown a resolute all hands to the pumps Derry defensive effort. Enniskillen were rewarded with a penalty for off side on seventeen minutes when Ally Duncan kicked a penalty to reduce the arrears to 13pts to 3pts.
Derry’s Mark Walker set the standard for the rest of his team with a work rate and commitment that demanded the same from his collegues and he got it unconditionally. David Murdock at full back had his best game of the season in attack and defence and with Adam Parke and Richard Peoples in front of him nothing got through. Ross Harkin, Lyons, Stephen Duffy and Walker tackled themselves to a standstill winning turnovers when needed and Peoples and Parke did the necessary with relieving kicks to touch which stemmed the Enniskillen momentum repeatedly.
Enniskillen missed a kickable penalty on twenty two minutes which frustrated the large support they brought with them. Derry went to the bench at the half progressed to bring on Ryan Spratt, Peter McCartney and Gary Boyle who all contributed with big games. The Judges Road men survived everything that was thrown at them until the last play of the game. Enniskillen’s outstanding No8 Gavin Parke collected the ball just inside the Derry half and beat of three tackles in a 40 metre run to score between the posts and with Duncan converting the referee blew the final whistle and Derry had recorded a famous victory by 13pts to 10pts.
City of Derry 2nd XV Coach James Doherty said after the game “I am really pleased for the players as this is just reward for what they have given on the pitch today. Everything I asked of them before the game they have done, we knew they had a big strong pack and would keep running at us all day. We had to keep our discipline and hold our shape with good line speed and tackling with commitment plus we had to keep 15 men on the pitch for the entire game. This we did and now we can look forward to a massive day for the entire club at Ravenhill on Easter Monday”.
City of Derry RFC 2nd XV Team V Enniskillen; Sam Duffy, Ross Harkin, Rodney Balfour(Captain), James Fawcett, Jonny Lyons, Stephen Duffy, Mark Walker, Chris McDonald, Phil Duffy, Adam Parke, Adam Blair, Richard Peoples, Paddy Blennerhassett, Stephen Brennan, David Murdock, Replacements; Ryan Spratt, Nathan Deeney, Peter McCartney, Gary Boyle, Ronan Flanagan.
