ACADEMY 13 DONAGHADEE 38
Donaghadee returned to league action on Saturday after their disappointing exit of the Towns Cup against Ballyclare.
With no fewer than eight teams all competing for the top four places that trigger qualification for the All Ireland Towns Cup at the top of the league table, Donaghadee had the opportunity to consolidate their position in that race with a trip to Roughfort on Saturday.
Academy had only picked up one win all season however the fact that they picked up four losing points along the way suggested that they were going to put up a stern enough test. CLICK HERE for the Shottss!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Indeed they put themselves in the driving seat of this clash with a try in the opening minute of the game. A Donaghadee clearance kick was charged down and the bounce was kind to Academy allowing their wing forward to touch down to the left of the uprights. The conversion was successful to give the home side a 7-0 lead.
Both place kickers then successfully a number of penalties in the opening quarter leaving the home side 13-9 ahead.
In the second quarter Donaghadee were clearly growing in confidence and although a little frantic and overeager at times, a score seemed inevitable.
From the restart of a Barker penalty Chris Hamilton collected the ball for Donaghadee and went on a trademark surge, breaking two tackles to power his way into the Academy half. Out-half Paul McKenzie then put a neat kick into the Academy 22 that they carried into touch giving Donaghadee a line-out deep in the danger zone.
It was from this line-out that McKenzie prodded a delicate kick behind the oncoming defence that flat-footed the home side, allowing the player-coach to collect and slide over the line for a tremendous solo effort.
McKenzie, settling into his change of position to outside half scored a second marvellous solo effort in first half injury time. The Donaghadee line-out was functioning well in the first half with both Richard Martindale, Kalave Aualiitia and Gareth Gordon performing strongly, and it was from a clean line-out ball that captain Ali Lockhart fed McKenzie who looked to pass to his inside support but then sliced through a gap in the Academy defence to run unchallenged to score his second of the day to give Donaghadee a 23-13 half time lead.
Barker made it four from four penalties in the opening minutes of the second half with an excellent strike.
Strangely Academy opted to have three goes at the posts in the opening 20 minutes of the second half although they were chasing a ten point lead which indicated that a losing Bonus Point was their main objective in the second period.
All three attempts were however unsuccessful and it was Donaghadee who picked up the next points of the game via a penalty try awarded after Academy were judged to have illegally twisted in the scrum causing it to collapse on three successive occasions.
Some enterprising rugby was being played by the away side with Ali Barnes and Aualiitia both making strong runs into the Academy 22.
The strong travelling support had to wait until the 76th minute to see the all-important fourth try, Ian Martindale, returning for his first run out of the season burst through the Academy defence and fed the supporting Hamilton who in turn found Chris McGivern hugging the touchline who squeezed over in the right corner.
Barker missed his first of the day leaving Donaghadee with a 38-13 win
Scoops Man of the Match – Richard Martindale
Donaghadee team: B.Allen , C.McGivern, I.Martindale, N.Barker, R.Garnham , R.Garnham, , A Lockhart, S.Hennessey,G.Gordon, Ali Barnes, K Auali’itia, D.Thompson, D.Murray, C Hamilton, R.Martindale Subs: P.Collins – R.Black
This Saturday the 1st XV welcome Q1 league leaders Portadown to Donaldson Park whilst the 2nd XV travel to Upper Malone to face Queens III. Usual pre-match lunch before the Portadown game – £10 per head for two courses supplied by Bow Belles – please contact Ian Fleming by Thursday afternoon if you would like to attend.
Donaghadee team: N.Barker,? ,R.Miller, P McKenzie, D.Devine,P Blewitt, A Lockhart, N McCullough, P.McCaughey, A Barnes, K Aualiitia, R Black,P.Hamilton, C Hamilton, R Martindale Subs: G.Gordon – A.Cash
