Powerade Towns Cup Semi-Final – Ballynahinch 2nd XV 22 Donaghadee 1st XV 5
Donaghadee travelled to Ballymacarn Park hoping for a repeat of last season’s victory at this stage of the competition but knowing as Ballynahinch 1st XV had no game the home side would have a full squad to pick from including the five bench players whom otherwise would have been included in the 1st XV squad. Nevertheless confidence was high that the Dee could pull off another surprise.
The Dee started well and pressed the Hinch line but stout home defence turned the ball over and so began an extended period of Hinch pressure in the Dee half. The well drilled Hinch side attacked from all angles but some outstanding defence from the Dee back row of Chris Hamilton, Stephen Adams and Matthew Stockton kept them out until, on ten minutes, the home side finally worked the extra man to allow Josh Donaldson to score in the corner. With the extras added Ballynahinch once again attacked the Dee utilising their excellent line-out to great effect and but were denied time and again by a disciplined Dee defence led by Alastair Lockhart and the pin-point line kicking of Paul Blewitt. Approaching the end of the first period the Dee broke out of defence and so started a sustained period of attack from the away side with Jack Cooke, Matthew Kane, Chris Good and the back row all combining to press their much vaunted counterparts up front and allowed Andy Findlater to find narrow gaps in their defence. The Hinch defence held firm however until Richard Martindale won a penalty on the floor and Paul McKenzie fired the ensuing kick to the corner five metres out from the opposition line. In what was to prove a key moment however the line-out was lost and Hinch No. 10 McBriar kicked to safety leaving the half-time score 7-0 in favour of Ballynahinch.
Donaghadee once again started the second half brightly but were undone by a snap breakout from the Hinch who moved the ball expertly through forwards and backs to allow Aaron Ferris to score and give them a 12-0 lead with the conversion missed. The Dee remained well in the game and were pressing via mixing an expansive game, with kick-chase initiated by Mark Cooper and again expert line-kicking from Blewitt. Unfortunately the Dee line-out was not at its best and the Hinch were picking off the key Dee efforts. Dee wings Tommy Slane and particularly Ryan Irvine were finding a few half-gaps in the home defence but ultimately the Hinch defence remained firm and they broke out from their twenty-two to win a five metre scrum from which the picked up and scored through Chris Napier after a quick ruck on the line leaving the score 17-0 in their favour.
Ballynahinch were themselves using the kick-chase game to good effect but Cooper and Irvine combined to run one such kick back into the home defence and link with forwards Good, Martindale, Cooke and Hamilton who all carried towards the Hinch line. Eventually the Dee composure up front told it’s tale and quck ball was moved to McKenzie who threw a long miss-pass off his left hand to Irvine who evaded his opposite number to score in the corner . The conversion was narrowly missed and the Dee now brought on Paul Hamilton and Ian Martindale in an effort to claw back the deficit in the last quarter. Hamilton certainly added his abrasive presence up front and again the Dee pressed with Lockhart, Irvine, Findlater and McKenzie prominent aided by the evergreen Gareth Gordon spoiling the Hinch efforts in ruck and maul. As is often the case in playing catch-up rugby Donaghadee eventually spilled the ball in midfield and McBriar kicked a speculative ball to the right wing where an unfortunate bounce jumped straight into the hands of the chasing Ferris who ran unopposed to the try-line to leave the final score 22-5 in favour of the Ballymacarn Park men.
A hugely disappointing result for Donaghadee then but the side will hold their heads high knowing that once again they competed at the highest level of Junior rugby in the province but were undone by a talented and experienced Ballynahinch side. Some standout performances from the Dee men but special mention is reserved for right-wing Ryan Irvine who maybe is the most improved player on the 1st XV this season and whose work in attack, and especially defence, was nothing short of exemplary.
Forster Cup Semi-Final – Donaghadee 2nd XV 0 Randalstown 2nd XV 6
The 2nd XV also narrowly missed out on a Ravenhill final when they lost by a narrow margin to J4 table-toppers Randalstown II. This was always going to be a difficult ask for the Dee given injuries and a five man bench for the 1st XV meant that the 2nd XV had lost a few of their most experienced players to the Towns Cup Semi-Final at Ballynahinch. 
Randalstown started well but the Dee first up defence turned them over in midfield and the home side were unlucky not to score from the ensuing passage of play. Randalstown returned to the attack and eventually converted a simple penalty to lead 3-0. As the first half approached a close the Dee were awarded a penalty from a scrummage offence but the place kick drifted wide.
The two sides continued to be well matched in the second half and Donaghadee were unlucky not to score when Davy Kirkpatrick intercepted a loose midfield pass but was stopped just short of the line. The Dee continued to press but stern Randalstown defence held them out. Eventually a Dee lineout was stolen and Randalstown extended their lead by three points with a snap drop goal. Within minutes to play the Dee attacked from all areas of the field but the Co. Antrim men were not to be denied and ran out 6-0 winners in what was the most competitive of cup-ties. Disappointment then for this extremely young Dee side but their day will come and they would like to acknowledge the part played by Coaches John West & Jimmy McCoy, skipper Stephen Cullen & the other senior players in the side in their success in both league & cup this season.
Minor League – Civil Service 2nd XV 0 Donaghadee 3rd XV 48
The game started at a frantic pace with service dominating the first few phases of play but the Dee defence were equal to the task. The Dee tight five soon asserted their dominance and provided good ball for Milligan to make a half break and feed his centre partner Jarvis who did all the hard work outpacing and then out powering the defence to cross the line but was bundled into touch in goal before getting the ball to ground. Following the first of many line-out turnovers by the veteran tall man Brian McCracken, powerful No. 8 Jordan Ellingham showed that he has some pace as well as power to dart over for the first Dee try to the left of the uprights. Andy Monson made no mistake with the conversion.
Moments later the Dee increased the lead to 10 with a Monson penalty. More powerful set piece from the Dee pack saw a good break by young winger Scott Gardner who offloaded to the rampaging Simon Moore to set up a Dee attack deep in Service territory. From the resultant scrum just outside the 22 Number 8 Ellingham again showed good pace and power from the base of the scrum and broke clear before offloading to his 9 Nick Lord who dived into the right hand corner to dot down. Again Monson sent the conversion between the uprights for a 17 point lead. Monson then took advantage of the slight tail wind to power over a penalty from just inside the Service half – 20-0 Dee. The final score before the break came from another McCracken steal at the front of the line out tidied by hooker Thompson, a few goose steps and offload to Monson running a crash line before Thompson re gathered Monson’s offload to dive over under the sticks. Monson again chipped over for a 27-0 half time score. 
The second half saw more of the same from the Dee men, any time the service pack got a foothold in the game Dee back rowers Johnny Ballagh and Mark Nicholl tackled hard and effected the turnover with a little weight from supporting forwards Ozzie Gordon and Mark Poole. This period of the game also saw fullback Graeme Goudy stamp his mark on the game with three or four clean breaks from his trademark architects straight running lines. Following one of these breaks, and after a few forwards pick and go phases, hooker Thompson again showed a goose step, side step and a clean pair of heels to dive over again converted by Monson. As the game loosened up towards the end Service had a few moments of attack within the Dee 22 but the away side finished strongly with scores from Ellingham and strong running centre Andy Jarvis, both converted by Monson to complete his faultless 8 from 8 off his trusty right boot.
A great performance from all eighteen 3rds players with quite a few unavailable and 40 players representing the Club’s 1s and 2s in semi-final action. Next week sees Dee RFC’s third and final attempt at qualifying for an Ulster Branch Final in 2015 with the 3s facing Malone 4s at Gibson Park at 2.30pm. All support welcomed at what is sure to be a tight and entertaining encounter.
Fixtures
Whilst the 3rd XV try to make it third time luck as far as semi-finals for Donaghadee this season go when they are away to Malone IV in the Butler Shield the 1st XV travel to Ballymoney for their final league game of the season. The 1st XV will kick-off as normal at 2:30pm but the 3rd XV game will kick-off at Malone at 12:30pm. There is a players & supporters bus going to Ballymoney meeting at Donaldson Park at 11:00am for a 11:15am departure so please contact Chris Good as soon as possible if you would like to be on it.
Players’ Meeting
Donaghadee RFC would like to invite you to a meeting of all current and prospective adult male players (including school leavers) this Thursday (tonight) at 8:30pm in The Clubhouse, Donaldson Park. Proceedings will be hosted by incoming Chairman Stephen Quinn and Director of Rugby Chris Good supported by Assistant Coach John West and Club & 1st XV Captain Alastair Lockhart and, by means of a Powerpoint presentation, the Club will set out its plans for the 2015/16 season and update everyone on current progress in respect of rugby and sport development both at Donaldson Park and within the town & local community.
80s Retro Night
Celebrate Easter in style at Donaldson Park on Saturday 4th April 2015 when we will bring the long awaited return of the Disco in the Clubhouse….the theme for the first one will be 80’s (fancy dress optional). More details will follow but we will be opening the doors from 7pm, ticket only event at a bargain price of £5, music from 8pm, disco from 10pm and late BBQ!
