MALONE II 12 DONAGHADEE 29
Donaghadee 1st XV completed their Conference League programme with a visit to Gibson Park where they met Malone II who boasted ex. Dee man Stephen Adams amongst their ranks. Injury and unavailability deprived the Dee of a number of players who had started against Banbridge two weeks earlier but the side welcomed back Chris Good, Tommy Scullion and Paul Blewitt whilst Andy Todd made his debut for the Club in the centre.
With only two minutes on the clock scrum-half Chade Gelderman broke blind after a succession of Dee rucks to feed No. 8 Jack Cooke on the 22 metre line who sprinted clear before steam rolling over the Malone full-back to score the opening try of the day in the corner which remained unconverted. The Dee had started strongly and were pressing Malone in all phases of play with the newly centre partnership of skipper Nigel Barker and Todd making their presence felt. From a foray in centre field Blewitt introduced full-back Mark Cooper to the fray and an exchange of passes reached right-wing Johnny Quigg who powered in from thirty metres in what is quickly becoming trademark fashion. The score was unconverted but, with twelve minutes gone the Dee led 10-0 and the travelling faithful were talking in terms of a cricket score. Such talk was to be proved naïve in the ensuing twenty minutes however when Malone scored two tries through their excellent three-quarters to take a previously unexpected lead. Firstly winger Johnny Gregg overcame weak tackling to score a try in the corner and then the talented Gareth Miller evaded and then outpaced the scrambling Dee defence to score close to the posts. With this try converted Malone had now taken the lead by 12-10 with thirty two minutes played. With play characterised at this stage by both sides making basic errors play swung to the favour of one team and then the other. From one of these exchanges the excellent Dee No. 7 Chris Hamilton was involved in a move towards the Cregagh Red Sox line twice before spinning and driving through two tackles to score in the corner. Again this score was unconverted and Malone launched a series of attacks on the Dee line which were only overcome by some sound turnover work from the ever industrious Good & Gareth Gordon supported by Cooke, Hamilton and Owen Roberts in the back-row and Todd and Barker in the backs.. Half-time was called with the Dee having a narrow lead of 15-12.
The early stages of the second period were notable only for the series of persistent errors which crept into Donaghadee’s game borne out of poor handling and a worrying penchant for off-loading when the opportunity wasn’t there. Again Malone pressed but stout defence enabled them to be repelled by Donaghadee who now appeared determined not to have their line crossed again. A feature of the game had been the Dee’s strong driving mauls at lineout time and from one of these, originating on the Malone twenty-two, the Dee eight drove with purpose toward the opposition line before a bonus point touchdown from Matthew Johnston and a conversion by Barker extended the Dee lead to 22-12 with fifty six minutes played. Cooke and Hamilton were proving a constant threat up front and a combination of the two led to the latter completing his brace when he broke through and then outpaced the despairing home defence to touch down with ten minutes of the game left – Barker again converting. The belligerent Malone side refused to lie down however and pressed the Dee defence continually for the final minutes of the game but, once again, stand-out defence with Todd, Gordon, Cooke & Hamilton particularly to the fore prevented any further change in the scoreboard to leave the final score 29-12 in favour of the Donaldson Park men.
The side will be reasonably pleased with this result but will be mindful of the high error and penalty count suffered by a side which are still getting used to each other in terms of personnel and combinations. Man of the Match was unquestionably the Dee flanker Chris Hamilton (with Jack Cooke not far behind) whilst Andy Todd will be happy with his first game in the red and green. Youngsters Gelderman and Scullion are improving with every match and Andy McGrugan & Adam Torrans are benefitting from each game played.
The Dee have now completed their Conference League programme and will be relieved that they have done so without any serious injury to the squad and now look forward to the real business of the season which commences next Saturday when Academy will be welcomed to Donaldson Park in the first round of the Junior Cup. Having won all of the Conference games played the Dee will be keen to kick-off their competitive season on a positive note.
DONAGHADEE III 17 ARDS III 46
A young and inexperienced Dee 3rd XV took on a very well drilled Ards III side which didn’t exactly go to plan from the Donaldson Park mens’ point of view. The Dee side were missing a few notables who were called up to World Cup duty in Cardiff – including inspirational scrum-half & Captain Andy Monson. However a great game to be involved in by all accounts followed by the World Cup and some light hearted derby game banter in the Clubhouse afterwards – which is exactly what social rugby is all about.
OTHER RESULTS
Kukri Q1 League
Ballyclare 45 Ards 12
Bangor 60 Dromore 10
Instonians 41 CIYMS 10
Portadown 13 Cooke 0
Kukri Q2 League
Ballymoney 15 Randalstown 25
Grosvenor 28 Carrick 38
Larne 57 Academy 19
Conference League
Ballynahinch 2s 30 Clogher Valley 17
Belfast Harlequins 2s 0 Omagh 45
Ballymena 2s 18 Enniskillen 14
Banbridge 2s 43 Coleraine 16
Queens 2s 7 Lisburn 39
THIS WEEK
This Saturday the 1st XV welcome Academy to Donaldson Park in the First Round of the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup whilst the 2nd XV travel all the way to Virginia where they meet the local 1st XV in a Junior 3 league game. Both matches kick-off at 2:30pm.
ENTERTAINMENT AT DONALDSON PARK THIS SATURDAY
The Clubhouse opens at 1:00pm with the following on offer during the course of the day:
2:30pm – Donaghadee RFC 1st XV vs. Academy – 1st Round of the Junior Cup
4:45pm – South Africa vs. Samoa – RWC2015 – On the big screen
8:00pm – England vs. Wales – RWC2015 – In the Hillis Room
8:00pm – Doors open for our eagerly awaited return of the Donaghadee RFC Disco….. this time with a Karaoke twist……..!!
DEE MINIS & YOUTH
There have been great numbers of around 100 attending training every Sunday and this weekend the first round of games are happening. This is a Saturday fixture on 26th September at Holywood RFC with a 10:30am kick-off. If you need any further details please contact any of the Mini / Youth Coaches.
