Donaghadee RFC Junior Cup
DEE PROGRESS IN JUNIOR CUP
Given the horrendous traffic delays in the Greater Belfast area last Saturday this Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup Round Two game in Banbridge did well to kick off at the normal time of 2:30pm. It at first appeared that the delays the Dee side had suffered had had little effect on their preparation when, inside the first couple of minutes, openside Chris Hamilton stormed in for a try in the far right hand corner which remained unconverted. After this point, however, the Dee’s fluidity seemed to desert them and the spirited Banbridge 2s side took the game on up front, and aided by a cacophony of adverse refereeing decisions , put the away side under a great deal of pressure with their fast driving game alternating with crisp threequarter line movement. The Bann men varied their attacks cleverly by, at times reverting, to a mauling game with their significantly larger pack rolling towards the Dee line with some conviction. During this period the front row of skipper for the day Gareth Gordon, Stuart Hennessey and Chris Good put in a magnificent defensive shift and the Dee stood firm. Athough gaining little possession at this point the foraging from the back row of (the streamlined) David Murray, Pete Stevenson and Hamilton proved key as from one turnover on the ten metre line the ball moved through the hands of Paul Blewitt, Andrew Findlater and the thrusting Paul McKenzie before being held up on the Bann line. The ball was quickly recycled by the pack and scrum half Mark Cooper nipped over for the Dee’s second try of the day which again was unconverted. After winger Rory Garnham then went close Banbridge again came back into the game threatening in Dee territory but their only reward was a penalty conversion to leave the half-time score 10-3 to the Dee.
The pattern of the second half was much the same as the first with the Dee playing some good rugby at times but a knock-on or a slip preventing greater reward and Banbridge looking increasingly dangerous in possession. First points of the second period went to Banbridge when Murray was adjudged to have killed ball in the “red zone” and was yellow carded for his sins with the opposition landing their second penalty of the day. Soon afterwards Banbridge broke through after a defensive lapse & only the rock solid defence of Dee full back Bill Allen saved the day. The Dee forwards were now beginning to exert a little more influence up front with the second row partnership of Tony Brown and Michael Blair to the fore aided by the experienced marshalling of Good, Hennessey and Hamilton. The breakthrough occurred when the rested Alastair Lockhart came off the bench to replace Cooper at nine who moved to fullback and Allen leaving the field after a good 55 minute spell on his return after holiday. Lockhart simply caused mayhem with his barrelling runs down the short side and also lifted his pack who now exhibited the dynamism which had, for the greater part, been missing heretofore. From one of these Lockhart forays the ball was recycled and moved quickly via Blewitt , McKenzie, Findlater and Cooper to right winger Chris McGivern who stood up up his opposite number and dived in at the corner flag – 15-6 to the Dee. This was now the dee’s best period of the game and the reinvigorated side piled pressure on the Bandridge defence with McKenzie, Garnham and Adam Torrans (replacing Stevenson who had to leave the field after suffering a “stinger”) all going close. As is often the case in these circumstances Banbridge lost their blindside flanker to the sin bin after he was adjudged to have sealed off ball on one occasion too many. From three Banbridge indiscretions the implacable Cooper stepped up to convert penalties and take the Dee to a 24-6 lead. Job done then? Not so – the home side showed great mettle (not least because they had been reduced to fourteen men as their openside had to leave field and they had used all their replacements) to come back into the game firstly scoring a beakaway try under the posts and then another after a lineout close to the Dee line, both converted …. 24-20 to the Dee. The large Dee support was now more than a little concerned especially since tight head Good had been yellow carded (possibly somewhat harshly) for slowing the ball down during one of Banbridge’s try scoring movements. Fortunately the cool heads and leadership of Hennessey, McKenzie, Lockhart and Gordon prevailed and the Dee survived the last five minutes and progressed to the Quarter Finals. Although playing well in patches the Dee men would do well to remember that Cup rugby is never over until it is over but the experience will hopefully serve them well in the upcoming All Ireland and Ulster Junior Cup games.
SECONDS FALL AT ROUGHFORT
The delays on the trip to north Belfast had an unsettling effect on Kyle Morrow’s 2nd XV when they quickly fell behind to a slick Academy 2s side to the extent of 17-0. They did however galvanise themselves thereafter and, after turning around 24-0 down at halftime came well back into the game in the second half to give an impressive account of themselves scoring two tries – one a particularly standout out solo effort from Andy McGrugan – to finish the game at 24-12. As we are now in mid-October and this was only the second game the 2s have played the lads are missing a little in match practice but this will soon take care of itself and Coach John West is confident that this – together with sustained effort on the training paddock – will pay dividends in the not too distant future and they will add to the impressive victory gained over Ballymoney some weeks ago.
THIS WEEK
Next Saturday the 1st XV travel to Fivemiletown to take on Q1 League pacesetters Clogher Valley. A coach has been organised for players and supporters and should you wish to take advantage of this please contact Chris Good. Meanwhile the 2nd XV entertain Portadown at Donaldson Park and the 3rd XV gave a res day. Both games kick off at 2:30pm and all support is most welcome.
ALL IRELAND JUNIOR CUP
On Saturday 26th October 2013 Donaghadee welcome Dundalk to Donaldson Park in the First Round of the All Ireland Junior Cup. Since the Dee had no home games in this competition last season this is probably the highest level of domestic competition seen at the Dee and, in recognition of that fact, various celebrations are planned one of which is a Pre-Match Lunch priced at £10 for a two course meal starting at 12:45pm. Bookings can be made through either Ian Fleming or Jim Lyttle. The Club are delighted to announce that current IRFU (Ulster Branch) President John Robinson of Ballynahinch RFC has found a space in his diary to attend both the lunch and the game and we look forward to hearing his thoughts prior to the match with the Leinster men who are currently flying high in J1.
