Donaghadee hosted Dromore RFC in Qualifying League One action on Saturday played in fantastic autumn conditions at Donaldson Park.
Both teams have been through transitional pre seasons as the Junior Cup winners aim to capitalise on their successful return to the top league in junior rugby and Dromore keen to improve on their scrap at the bottom of the table in last season’s campaign.
Dromore put early points on the scoreboard with a well taken penalty in the 2nd minute however the home team responded with the opening try of the game on the 10th minute courtesy of a try by Murray.
After dominant play from the Dee pack the ball was fed to Paul Blewitt, just outside the Dromore 22, whose grubber kick was picked up by Paul McKenzie and in the same movement and picking up the bouncing ball recognised he had help in the form of Murray whose support play was rewarded with a try right under the uprights. Blewitt added the conversion to give Dee a 7-3 lead.
In the next ten minutes Dromore showed enough to suggest that they are a much improved team to last season and played some very tight rugby going through a number of phases of play without error. The outcome of this dominant phase of play was a try that came from a Dromore line-out deep in Donaghadee’s half that they won and were able to create real momentum to drive their way over the Dee line. The difficult conversion from the left hand side was successful to edge Dromore in front.
There were no additional scores before half time but this did not reduce the entertainment factor of this very physical League One contest. The tenacious captain Ali Lockhart leading his pack by example, and encouragingly Donaghadee’s work rate and discipline at the breakdowns picking up where it left off at Armagh a fortnight ago.
Also pleasing for the regulars at Donaldson Park was the stability of the red and green scrum that has perhaps seen the biggest overhaul since last season– the maturity and level of performance of this young pack growing week by week.
Unfortunately a little indiscipline crept into play as the half drew to a close and Donaghdee lost the services of Ali Barnes for five minutes either side of the half.
Half Time – Donaghadee 7 Dromore 10
Dromore extended their lead in the opening minutes of the second half with a really well worked try this time involving their back line. Their forwards secured cleanline-out ball to allow the ball to be spread across the backline from left to right and the right winger finished the move touching down in the corner. The conversion was missed to leave Dromore with a 15-7 lead.
Dromore were reduced to fourteen men in the 50th minute after the offending player deliberately knocked on as McKenzie looked to use an overlap of players on the attack and feed Kalave Aualiitia. Blewitt who has not had to concern himself with kicking duties in the last year stepped up to show that ‘class is permanent’ and slotted over from the clubhouse side.
The pendulum was very much swinging in the home sides favour midway through the second half and Dee drew level in the 62nd minute thanks to a try from Chris Hamilton. Dee attacked a Dromore fed scrum to retrieve the ball and Hamilton, taking the defence unaware burst down the far side fending off would be tacklers. Hamilton has clearly put on bulk since last year’s campaign however he has lost none of that explosive pace and aided by the vocal support of Messrs’ Dunn and Ross on the touchline Hamilton scored in the far corner.
Blewitt surpassed his previous fine effort to nudge Dee into the lead with 15 minutes left on the clock.
The general feeling at this stage was that the home side were very much in control of this game and although the lead was a small one, it was one that Donaghadee could add to.
Dromore however composed themselves and started to take territorial advantage in the final stages of the second half. In the 73rd minute Donaghadee looked to play their way out of their own half and an adventurous pass was picked up by the Dromore scrum half who could hardly believe his luck as he gathered the ball and saw a clear route to the try line. The conversion was unsuccessful to give Dromore only a three point advantage going into the final 5 minutes of play.
Dee’s spirit was not broken and they tried desperately to manufacture a try scoring opportunity, not easy against a team that could sense a valuable away win at a venue that had only two league defeats in the previous 24 months.
Cruelly Dee were offered an attempt at goal to level the scores with the final play of the game. This was no more than a speculative attempt as all other options required time that simply wasn’t available. Blewitt was unable to recreate the previous fine efforts and the ball drifted wide to signal the end of the game.
It can be difficult to see positives in defeat however on reflection this was a really enjoyable game of rugby football that saw the lead change hands on no fewer than five occasions. This match will be ideal preparation for Donaghadee’s busy fixture schedule in the comings weeks starting with their defence of the Junior Cup this Saturday at Ballynahinch.
Donaghadee team: N.Barker, A Cash, G Martin, P McKenzie, C McGivern, P Blewitt, A Lockhart, N McCullough, G Gordon, A Barnes, K Auali’itia, R Black, D Murray, C Hamilton, R Millar Subs: D Thompson, A Torrens – Scoops Man of the Match – Chris Hamilton
This Saturday the Dee travel to Ballynahinch in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup. Fate certainly hasn’t favoured the Donaldson Park side on this occasion as this is arguably one of the most difficult draws in the 2nd Round with the Ballynahinch club being perhaps the strongest club in the province at the moment. The Dee, however, look forward to defending the trophy so courageously won in Christmas week 2011 and would ask supporters to reprise their efforts of last season when their assistance undoubtedly spurred the boys on to victory. Meanwhile the 2nd XV play Queens III at home and the 3rd XV are way to Grosvenor IV.
