DEE MOVE INTO POWERADE TOWNS CUP QUARTER FINALS
Donaghadee played Qualifying Two outfit Enniskillen in the second round of the Towns Cup last Saturday and with both teams sharing mixed form in their respective leagues this game offered both clubs a welcome distraction to progress in this prestigious cup competition.
Enniskillen played the first half with a strong wind at their backs into the clubhouse and quickly used this to their advantage. After a couple of half chances to break through the Dee defense they took the lead in the 14th minute when they capitalized on an overlap on the left hand side of the pitch and although Skins winger Charlaton flirted with the touchline whitewash he did just enough to touch down for the first try of the day. The conversion was missed.
The home side could not have offered a more immediate reply scoring their first try in the 16th minute. It was fullback Billy Allen who set the tone with a forceful dart into the visitors 22. The ball was then recycled and it was Max Montgomery who weaved his way through a number of would be tacklers to feed a scoring pass to the oncoming David Murray who finished a fine reply by Donaghadee. Nigel Barker kicked Dee into the lead with a well struck conversion.
Donaghadee enjoyed the better of possession during the first half however an aggressive Enniskillen forward pack disrupted play enough to ensure that the home side at time struggled to build any real momentum in a half that was not helped by the bitter cold temperatures and heavy pitch.
In the 27th minute Donaghadee got their second try of the day after a series of phases close to the Enniskillen line. It was Chris Good who emerged from the bottom of the pile to take the credit for what was a powerful effort from the Dee pack. Barker converted to give the Dee a 14-5 lead.
With the conditions far from perfect a nine point lead appeared to be a useful margin as half time approached and buoyed on by this lead the home side started to play a slightly more expansive style of rugby with young Ryan Irvine, returning from injury, getting an opportunity to make ground on the right wing. It was from a Dee attack on the stroke of the half time whistle that Enniskillen centre Wilkinson read a Dee backline move and intercepted the ball to run unopposed and bring the away side right back into this cup tie.
Half Time Donaghadee 14 – Enniskillen 12.
Nigel Barker gave Donaghadee an early advantage in the second period with a well taken penalty kick in the 42nd minute. Taken from quite some distance Barker kept his effort low to avoid the menacing wind.
At the interval Donaghadee made two changes to their forward personnel with both Kyle Morrow and Ali Barnes quickly making an impact in open play.
Donaghadee continued to dominate set plays and on the 50th minute used their powerful scrum to push over from close range. Dee Number 8 Montgomery touching the ball down from the base of the scrum.
Barker converted to give the home side a 12 point advantage.
Much credit must be given to the Qualifying League 2 outfit who continued to exert their energy on this game and through a number of useful ball carriers continued to ask questions of the Donaghadee defence. The home side in the end had too much quality and experience and were able to grind down the opposition with notable defensive work from Barker and the ever present Gareth Gordon.
Barker edged Donaghadee closer to the quarter final draw in the 62 minute with his second penalty of the day before Max Montgomery delighted the home crowd with a fine solo effort to score his second try of the day in the 78th minute. Montgomery took possession of the ball just inside the opposing 22 and with little room to manoeuvre showed great footwork and balance to weave past a couple of covering tacklers and cross the try line.
Barker converted to bring his own points tally to 14 for the day.
Full Time Donaghadee 34 – Enniskillen 12
THIS WEEK
With the 1st XV having a scheduled break this week the 2nd XV take the limelight with a home tie in the Forster Cup against Lisburn III and the 3rd XV have an away league game just up the road where they meet their Holywood counterparts. Both games kick off at 2:30 pm.
NIGHT AT THE RACES
As part of the Night at the Races event at La Mon on Saturday 22nd March 2014 Jonathan Martindale is keen to get his hands on as many photos as possible involving Donaghadee RFC throughout the years. He would like anyone with some photos suitable for public viewing to get in contact so that he can get a copy – all originals will be promptly returned. On a separate note – tickets for the event are selling very quickly so if you are hoping to go and need seat(s)/table please let Chris Good know in order to avoid disappointment. It promises to be a great night!
