City of Derry seconds returned to winning ways on Saturday when the beat high flying Larne by 31 point to11. Larne who are currently leading the way in the Conference League Section 3B, as well as Qualifying league Section 3B succumbed to their first defeat of the season. When a Young and talented Derry side lead by Brian Prue decided to show them what North West Rugby is all about. In what was a high competitive match on a sunny winter’s day at Judges Road.
It was Derry who opened the scoring on 12 minutes when sustained pressure from the forwards say the catch a drive establish a strong rolling maul, on the Larne 22 and the Derry forwards rumbled their way over the line to see Mark Walker touch down at the back of the maul for the opening points of the game. Derry David Smyth who is a promising young out half struck the conversion just wide of the uprights to give Derry just a 5 point lead. But was to add a penalty on the 19th minutes when the referee Oisin Quinn adjudged the Larne hooker to have played the ball on the ground during a ruck. Smyth stood up and added the three points to increase Derry lead to 8 points to nil.
It was Larne who were next on the score sheet when sustained pressure from the forwards resulted in Eddie Hunter breaking through the Derry defence to touch down in the corner on 34 minutes. Hunter, whose barn storming runs caused Derry defence havoc, saw him break three or four tackles at a time on his way to scoring his try. Larne’s James Mc Cluggage adding the conversion. To narrow the lead to 1 point. Derry struck back on the stroke of half time when again they were awarded a penalty for what looked like a spear tackle but Referee Oisin Quinn decided that a penalty would survice and it was Derry David Smyth who step up to add the extra three points to give Derry an 11 points to 7 half time lead.
After a stern talking to at half time, Derry came out of the blocks when Centre David Graham linked up with scrum half Phil Duffy to break away from the Larne defence to cross the white wash for Derry’s second try. Smyth added the conversion and Derry seemed to be cruising.
But it was Larne who decided to spoil the party when great break from their full back Greg Gillander took them deep into the Derry 22. Under pressure at the breakdown Derry infringed at the ruck and gave away a penalty to which Mc Cluggage dually added the three points to make the score line 18 points to 10 in Derry’s Favour. From the Restart Derry reproduced a stunning try which was similar to the one the score in the final of the Crawford cup back in April. Smyth’s kick off bounced in space behind the Larne forwards, winger Rudi Moore pounced on the loose ball, broke down the left wing handed off a Larne Defender to score the first of his brace of tries under the posts. Smyth added the conversion to make the score 25 points to 10.
Derry who had the upper hand in the scrum all day saw great pressure generated from the front row Mitchell, Cregan and Hammill set up a great attacking platform for their back row of combination Walker, Prue and Mc Flintlock to attack from the set play. This allowed their centre duo of David Graham and Andrew Barr to link up and penetrate the Larne defence making the hard yards. It was break from Barr who setup Moore for his second try of the game when he bounced through a gap to off load to Moore who pumped his was to the line to take his tally to two for the day and sealing Larne’s fate and confirming Derry victory and with the last kick of the game Smyth added the conversion to bring his own tally to 12 points. With the final result 32 points to 10 in what was hard fought victory for the Derry boys in the newly formed Conference.
Derry Seconds Coaching team of Sean Kane and Jonathan Quigley where happy with their teams performance and have big hopes for the rest of the season, commenting after the game Sean Kane said “if all the boys continue to train hard over the winter months it will give them a great standing in both the 2nd xv league as well as the conference. It was great to see the mix of young players and experienced talisman link up well together with each player putting their bodies on the line for each other”.
Next week Derry travel to Co. Down for their conference fixture against Hollywood who are currently sitting second in 3B. While Larne Return to Qualifying league action when the welcome Donegal Town to the Glynn.
