After a break from action Donaghadee 1st XV travelled to Armagh to play their 2nd XV in the Conference League.
Coaches Paul McKenzie and Stuart Hennessey took this opportunity to make a couple of changes and introduce some fringe players who had performed well in the 2nd XV’s start to the season.
The changes seemed to impact Donaghadee’s start to the game and the home side were able to break the defence at ease building up a 6-0 lead courtesy of two penalties.
Donaghadee however settled and started to build structure into their game maintaining good possession of the ball and putting together a few phases of play. They got their first points of the afternoon on the 15th minute thanks to a well taken penalty from Paul Blewitt.
Donaghadee forwards then began to get the upper hand on their counterparts with strong ball carrying from debutant Richard Black, Kalave Aualiitia and Richard Millar in particular.
The clean ball that the green and red pack were now securing allowed the new look back line to test the opposition defence and it was debut ant Gareth Martin who was to take the plaudits with three tries in a 25 minute dominant spell from the visitors. Martin, I am sure will be the first to acknowledge the team contribution in each score. The scores were generally carbon copies of each other where after recycling the ball through a number of phases on each occasion and sucking in defenders ‘the general’ Ali Lockhart was able to spot the space on the left flank feeding the ball towards Martin who finished clinically.
Blewitt will not have thanked Martin for the resulting touchline conversions – however Blewitt did land one out of the three with a sublime effort that split the uprights to give Dee a commanding half time lead.
Half Time Armagh 6 Donaghadee 20
Armagh started the second half with renewed purpose and dominated possession without being able to take territorial advantage. The game at this time was becoming a real physical battle and Donaghadee showed they had the discipline and strength to put in an accomplished defensive performance which has been one of the squad’s strongest traits in recent campaigns.
After a dominant spell from the home side Donaghadee got the first try of the second half which was a result of a great piece of determined work from prop Ali Barnes. The young prop forward has already endeared himself to those that follow Donaghadee on a regular basis after a couple of committed performances and this surge from just inside the Armagh 22 with a number of defenders trying everything to kill Barnes’ momentum was rewarded with his first try of the season. Blewitt converted to give Dee a 27-7 lead.
Armagh did score an unconverted try midway through the half however it was Dee who finished with 2 further tries courtesy of a second Barnes try and one for fullback Ryan Irvine who had a particularly good game in attack, finishing his try well after a great line break from player/coach McKenzie who also enjoyed his best performance in a Dee jersey to date.
Full Time Armagh 11 – Donaghadee 41
Donaghadee team: R Irvine, A Cash, P McKenzie, M Cooper, G Martin, P Blewitt, A Lockhart, N McCullough, G Gordon, A Barnes, K Auali’itia, R Black, D Murray, C Hamilton, R Millar.
Scoops Man of the Match – Kalave Auali’itia
Meanwhile the 3rd XV defeated PSNI II 26-15 at Newforge with tries from Harpur (2), Thompson and JD Boyd. A second win in a row for the 3s who now have a couple of weeks break before resuming their campaign against Grosvenor IV and Belfast Harlequins IV in October.
This Saturday the 1st XV also have a break as the holders have bye from the 1st Round of the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup due to their qualification for the All-Ireland Junior Cup. The only Dee side in action then will be the 2nd XV who take on Ballynahinch V in the League at Donaldson Park with a 2:30pm kick off.
Players and members are reminded that subscriptions for season 2012/13 are payable by 30/09/2012 so please make every effort to settle up with Membership Secretary Gavin Wallace before then.
