City of Derry RFC 34pts, Ards RFC 38pts
City of Derry Rugby Club’s first home defeat in the league for three seasons came on Saturday last when Ards who had only one victory all season came to Judges Road and deservedly came away with the spoils. This loss could not have come at a worse time for Derry following their away defeat to Rainey last Saturday which now sees them relegated to fourth place in All Ireland League Division 3 just a point above Banbridge. This season the top four teams are promoted to AIL Division 2 which was Derry’s goal for the year, now with four games to go, two at home and two away it will be a real test of the character and commitment of this young squad if they are to attain their goal.
The other major shock on Saturday in AIL 3 was the comprehensive defeat of league leaders Instonians at Greystones by 48pts to 6pts and with Seapoint defeating Naas by 30pts to 15pts the league table sees Seapoint on top on 44pts with Instonians in second and Greystones third and Derry in fourth on 39pts. There are some very competitive league fixtures remaining for the top five teams and the destiny of the four promotion places will come down to the last series of fixtures on Saturday 16th April.
The conditions on Saturday were perfect for rugby at Judges Road and Ards started in positive mood but missed an easy opportunity from a penalty on five minutes. Derry got on the scoreboard after ten minutes when Philip Brady robbed the Ards scrum half and captain Stewart Paul in midfield. Brady took the ball quickly forward and passed to winger Simon Logue who outpaced two players to score a try wide out to leave Derry leading by 5pts to nil.
Ards were back on the score sheet within two minutes when Derry’s Achilles heal reared its ugly head, lacklustre tackling around the breakdown and non existent midfield defence allowed Man of the Match out half Jason Morgan in for a try by the posts which he converted himself to leave the score 7pts to 5prs for Ards. Richard McCarter converted a 35 meter penalty for Derry on fifteen minutes. Derry were 15pts to 7pts in front on thirty minutes. It was all Derry pressure for ten minutes inside the Ards 22 meter area and eventually from an Ards 5meter scrum pressure told when a miss placed pass went to ground and Derry’s wing forward Chris Cooper touched down for a try which McCarter converted.
The Ards pack were lively all through and following strong forward play on thirty five minutes their Number 8 Conor Piper got in for a great forwards try which was unconverted and the score was 15pts to 12ps for Derry. Derry won turnover ball from the kick off and Andrew Semple to released Richard McCarter in midfield to out strip the Ards defence to score an unconverted try to put his team in front by 20pts to 12pts. Ards had the last say in the first half when once again poor defence for Derry saw hooker Stuart Ferguson touch down for a try converted by Morgan to leave Derry leading at the break by 20pts to 19pts.
The second half started poorly for Derry and the Ards out half Morgan seemed to have time and space to do as he liked. He accepted the invitation to score a try on nine minutes when he waltzed in from 25 meters to touch down and convert it himself to give Ards the lead by 26pts to 20pts. Derry raised their game and a quick tap penalty by Richard Baird on thirteen minutes saw him make ground before finding Richard McCarter who released full back Peter Henderson coming into the line to score a hallmark try which McCarter converted for a 27pts to 26pts lead for Derry.
Derry tried but failed to get that elusive score to put daylight on the scoreboard between themselves and Ards. The lack of defensive commitment from Derry was always a problem once Ards got to the red zone and their play belied their lowly position in the league. It was all Ards on the attack and on twenty four minutes when Simon Logue was sin binned it reflected the pressure Derry were under. Max Harrison the Ards wing forward got in for a try as reward for pressure and Morgan converted to leave Ards leading by 33pts to 27pts with fifteen minutes remaining.
Derry pressed hard for that elusive score to put them back in front but Ards defended stoutly to keep their line intact. Derry threw everything at Ards and were moving the ball inside the opposition 22 meter line with thirty five minutes gone when a loose pass was intercepted by the Ards full back Gareth Wilson who ran the length of the field to score what proved to be the winning try of the game which went unconverted but game Ards had a crucial lead by 38pts to 27pts. This young Derry team showed their pride to the end and non stop attack was rewarded when centre David Funston bulldozed in for a try by the posts which Andrew Semple converted quickly with a drop kick. That proved to be the final action of the game as the referee blew the final whistle.
That late score might prove to be vital for Derry at the end of the season despite their shock defeat as it gave the home side two bonus points one for finishing within seven points of the opposition and the other for scoring four try’s or more. City of Derry Rugby Club players and coaches will have to do some serious analysis of their recent performances to identify that missing ingredient that has brought them success over the last two seasons. They will have to rectify their performances if there are to attain their goal of top four position and promotion this season.
City of Derry Team V Ards: Chris Shields, Sam McAuley, Sam Duffy, Philip Brady, David Houston, Chris Cooper, Stephen Simms, Richard Baird, Andrew Semple, Richard McCarter, Simon Logue, David Funston, Ryan Campbell, Josh Lewis, Peter Henderson. Replacements; David Witherow, Stephen Duffy, Stephen Corr, Tom Patton, Richard Peoples.
