On Saturday 14 January, Cookstown RFC made the long journey across the border to play County Cavan Rugby Club in the Minor League. Due to injuries and unavailability of key personnel, the team included five forced changes from that which defeated City of Derry in the McCambley cup the previous week.
The game kicked off in soft underfoot conditions with Cookstown benefitting from a slight breeze on their backs. Following a well gathered kick off, the Cookstown pack set about their task of charging at the Cavan Front eight. With a solid platform the Cookstown backline were full of running with inside centre Ronan Campbell featuiring prominently with several strong runs.
Indeed it was good pressure at scrum time inside the Cavan 22 which set up the first score of the day. A well time engagement allowed Cookstown to push Cavan back where backrower Martin Boome was able to pounce on the Cavan 10 as he attempted to clear. The eagle eyed Darral Donaghy was on hand to touch down. Ciaran Currie converted to give Cookstown a dserved 7-0 lead,
The second score of the day came following some aerial ping pong between both sets of full backs. When the Cavan full back misdirected his kick it was gathered by the hardy Ronan Campbell who went on a bullocking run through and around some wouldbe tacklers. Ronan was tracked to the try line and somewhat miraculously held up by a Cavan Defender. From the ensuing five metre scrum Cookstown number eight Thommo, er Easty picked up and darted across the field to touch down in the corner. Try converted 14-0
The third score came from a well executed move from a line out in the Cavan 22. Quck ball off the top by Martin Devlin when the ball was popped to Neil Thompson who carried strong to the Cavan five yard line. Quick ball from the ruck saw Ciaran currie pass to team captain Ryan Eastwood who went in for his second score of the day. Conversion successful.
After a ten minute spell in the Cavan 22 the Cookstown pack went through a series of pick and go’s which brought them up the Cavan five metre line. Ryan Eastwood made a break and offloaded to the supporting Martin Boone who barged his way under the posts. Conversion was successful.
Cookstown’s second score of the half came following a rehearsed lineout move where the ball was popped to the hard running Ryan Eastwood who made yards towards the Cavan line. Good support play from JP Reah and Richard Brown kept the move going. Quick ball fromt he ruck was spun wide to Ciaran Currie who passed to hooker Stephen Rea who threw an audcious looping miss pass to an onrushing Barry Loughran who gathered the ball brilliantly and scored in the corner. Conversion missed.
Into the second and Cookstown continued to dominate proceedings. The ball was spun from a scrum on the halfway line to Ronan Campbell who ran a switch move with Ciaran McKenna. Ronan made hard yards where he offloaded to Conor Harte. The ball was quickly spun through several sets of hands includung JP Reah, Ciaran McKenna and Martin Devlin. Quick ball from the ruck was the spun wide where Neil Thompson dotted down in the corner. The conversion was charged down.
Another Lineout in the Cavan 22 saw the ball being spun out to centre to Ronan Campbell who charged up the centre. Ronan popped the ball to the supporting Ciaran Currie. Again it was the busy Ryan Eastwood who was in support to take the offload and touch down for his hatrick. The ref blew the final whistle soon after.
This was a much improved Cookstown performance were the forwards worked well together to refuse Cavan much in the way of any clean ball. The scrums and lineouts were very much one way traffic with Martin Devlin and the front row of Richard Brown, Chris Moore and Stephen Rea prominent throughout. The back three of Stephen Quinn, Conor Harte and Barry Loughran were rock solid and defended well. Barry also took his try very well. Centre Ronan Campbell and back rower Ryan Eastwood were prominent in all of the trys. However the man of the match award went to Neil Thompson who did the unseen and unglamorous work of tackling and turning over the ball.
The return journey was quite memorable with a series of unscheduled stops. One of which saw scrum half Darral ‘Ivan Drago’ Donaghie set a new Augnhacloy record for the punchbag strength tester. The bus journey also doubled as a send off for influential backrower Neil Thompson who now leaves these shores to go on a tour of Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. Neill has been an influential player for Cookstown and will be sorely missed. We wish him all of the best on his adventures and look forward to seeing him in the black of CRFC.
Next week Cookstown play local rivals Rainey Old Boys.
Photograph captions:
Barry Loughran carries strong
Cookstown RFC Captain Ryan Eastwood in full flight
Darral Donaghie and Martin Boone scramble for the ball
