BUTLER SHIELD FINAL – Armoy 1st XV 10 Donaghadee 3rd XV 18
Larne RFC were the hosts for the 2014/15 Butler Shield Final and weather conditions were as expected – breezy, showery and sunny – throughout the afternoon at The Glynn. The Dee exerted early pressure but were repulsed by the experienced Armoy side who soon set their stamp on the game with strong driving forward play and expert kicking from their talented No. 10 who brought play to the Dee twenty two only to be turned over time and again by the latter’s back row of Pete Stevenson, Martin Coulter and Stuart Thompson who ultimately were to be the telling difference between the two sides.
Scrum-half Andy Monson and out-half Gareth Doherty drove the Dee back up the pitch and Armoy infringed to the Dee take the lead through the boot of Monson. Play returned to the Dee twenty two and a carbon copy breach let Armoy tie up the scores. As the half finished the Dee pressed the Armoy line and threatened to score via Ossie Gordon, Jamie Wilson, Mark Poole and flying winger Gareth Martin but Armoy held out to leave the sides tied at 3-3 at the break.
The Dee faithful were now confident that the side could go on to win game given the fact that the not inconsequential breeze was at their backs but too often play broke down with the Deemen playing too much rugby in their own territory. Skipper Monson now brought his influence to bear and Doherty kicked the ball deep to the Armoy half on the back of penalties won by his back row who were dominating open play. Following successive drives on the Armoy line led by Brian McCracken, Simon Moore and Gordon the ball was spun to Doherty who released centre Ryan Milligan on an angled run which broke the hitherto impenetrable Armoy defensive line and resulted in the first try of the game which was converted by Monson.
The game now broke up with Armoy attempting to gain parity on the scoreboard but the Dee defence remained firm and counter attacks from Stevie Garrett, Michael Moore and the barrelling Graeme Goudy were just held up short. On sixty minutes Dee loosehead Simon Moore sustained a serious leg injury and play was held up as he was stretchered from the field. Monson now unloaded his bench bringing on Andy Molyneaux, Andy Dunn & Philip Weston which a rejuventating effect on the tiring Dee side and a penalty was won on the Armoy twenty two which was again converted by Monson to extend the lead to 13-3. With time running out Armoy returned to the attack but were denied through stout Dee tackling in midfield and open play led by the mercurial Stevenson. The Dee once again countered attacked via a storming run from Thompson ably supported by his pack. The ball was recycled through various phases prior to release to the threatening Dee backs with Doherty feigning a pass to his threequarters on the blindside before slipping through a gap in the Armoy defence to touch down in the corner. Although the conversion was missed the Dee were now 18-3 ahead with only seven minutes to play. To their great credit Armoy were not to be denied and exerted continuing pressure on the Dee for the remainder of the game gaining their reward on the final whistle when loose ball was picked up on the halfway line and slick handling led to their centre racing under the posts. The try was converted to the leave the final score 18-10 in favour of the men from the Dee.
The final whistle brought ecstasy for both the Dee 3rd XV and their huge travelling support before skipper Monson and Club President Bill Boomer jointly hoisted the trophy presented by IRFU (Ulster Branch) representative Ross Workman.
This was fitting end to the season for the 3rd XV and represented the culmination of a huge amount of work put in by the forty or so players who have played on the side but most especially for Andy Monson who (together with a small band of helpers) has totally rejuvenated “social” rugby at the Club. The Club would like to thank not only the eighteen players who were lucky enough to play in the Final but also all those who have turned out for the side during the season and have made no little contribution to its success. Thankfully Simon Moore’s injury proved not to be a broken leg as first suspected and, after an A&E diagnosis of ligament damage, he was able to join the celebrations back at Donaldson Park.
Finally thanks to both Armoy RFC who were most worthy and gracious opponents and to Larne RFC who were the most hospitable and generous of hosts.
DEE 2nd XV FINISH OFF SEASON IN STYLE – Ards 2nd XV 5 Donaghadee 2nd XV 25
Having already secured promotion to Junior 3 next season Donaghadee 2nd XV could have been forgiven for taking this game lightly last Wednesday evening. Local derbys are seldom taken lightly however and both sides blended a mixture of youth and experience – the latter highlighted by the appearance of Michael Creighton on the Ards fifteen and Paul Blewitt continuing to roll back the years for the Dee.
The first half was a tense and attritional affair with both sides threatening to score but with key passes going to ground the score remained at 0-0 until the last fifteen minutes of the half when Blewitt landed a penalty goal after an Ards player was adjudged off his feet at ruck. Ards then pressed the Dee defence but in what was to be a key feature of the game ball was turned over and carried into the home twenty two before the Dee were forced into touch. With Matthew Johnston controlling ball at the line out the Dee pack moved forward in successive phases before No. 9
Chris Scott released his backs and Blewitt threw a mispass to right winger Andrew Mitchell who steamed through the centre to score an unconverted try.
The second half began with Ards showing a great deal of purpose through the sniping runs of scrum-half Sinnamon and his brother Ross at No. 8 which eventually took play to the Dee five metre line where Creighton pounce to carry over and bring Ards back to 8-5. Buoyed by the score Ards continued to press but were time and again undone by the foraging and turnover work of Dee flankers Johnston and Owen Roberts. The Dee midfield defence was also holding firm in the form of Andy Cash and Chris McGivern ably supported by Mark Cooper who was additionally causing panic in the home defence with his elusive footwork and carrying skills. The Dee broke again after turning ball over and once again the Ards pack infringed allowing Blewitt to take the pragmatic option and kick the penalty to leave the Dee 11-5 in the lead. The Dee front five led by skipper Stephen Cullen and hooker Rhys Thompson continued to frustrate their opponents whilst No. 8 Johnny Stewart carried the hard yards into the middle of of the hard working Ards forward pack. Ards – though attacking with no little purpose – were undone by the ferocious Dee defence and successive opportunities were spurned before broken play led to excellent handling skills in the Dee three quarters with the ball reaching left wing Andy McGrugan who outpaced the home defence to score under the posts. Blewitt converted to take the score to 18-5 in the Dee’s favour. Entering into the last ten minutes Ards now opened up from all areas of the field but were once again denied by stern Dee defence in which Johnston – as he had done all match – was in the vanguard. As is often the case
playing catch-up rugby the attacking side – in this case Ards – spilled the ball in midfield and two passes later the ball was once again with the quicksilver McGrugan who reprised his earlier effort to complete his brace by once again outpacing the despairing home defence. Blewitt again added the extras. Play continued for a further five minutes but was brought to a close when the Dee regained possession and Blewitt kicked to touch for no-side.
A thoroughly enjoyable game for both sides then with Donaghadee just edging things having done the hard work in the first half and then opening up things in the second. This was a fitting performance to end the 2nd XVs season – a season in which they finished runners-up in the league and reached the semi-final of the Forster Cup and in so doing proving the most successful for the Club’s second string in many’s a year. This has been achieved by a team containing two or three old hands, a sprinkling of players in their earlier twenties but by far the majority having an average age of only 19. A magnificent effort not only from these young men (and those who have played throughout the season) – many of which are in the first year out of school- but also special mention must be made of Coach John West who has welded together a very combative and competent 2nd XV side over the last two seasons, skipper Cullen who has led from the front with his heart on his
sleeve, Assistant Coaches Jimmy McCoy & John Blewitt and last, but not least, Club S&C Coach Paddy McGrattan whose influence was there for all to see when in key games in the latter part of the season when the side outlasted the opposition.
FIXTURES
The victorious 3rd XV bring the curtain down on Donghadee RFC’s 2014/15 season when they welcome Carrick 4th XV to Donaldson Park this Saturday. The game kicks-off at 2:30pm.
