DEE TWOS MAINTAIN HOME RECORD
by Jim Lyttle
2nd XV win 31-20 in an ill tempered league game at Donaldson Park – reports Kyle Morrow
The 2nd XV looked to continue their unbeaten run at home with a visit from Armagh 3rd XV.
There were several changes to the side that lost the previous week at Grosvenor, with Morgan Ellis and Andrew Findlater returning after being unavailable and the injured duo of Andrew Cash and Captain Kyle Morrow coming back into the side.
Donaghadee received the kick off playing down the hill and, after initially securing possession, surrendered it carelessly. Armagh forced two penalties in dangerous territory and took their second opportunity to go 3-0 into the lead.
Donaghadee came roaring back after a sloppy start and strung a number of phases together in the Armagh half. The backline attacked in the centre of the pitch and it looked like Armagh had halted the attack, only for supporting flanker Ryan Campbell to rip the ball from his teammate and spin away from an unsuspecting defence to score to the right of the posts, with Andy McGrugan adding the extras.
After this, the game became disjointed and sloppy, with both teams making errors in the middle of the park, leading to a Donaghadee scrum in midfield. The backline started to the right but, as the ball came to the back of the scrum, stormed the blindside. The Donaghadee out half used his teammates outside him to dummy and cut through the defensive line. The Dee man known affectionately as “The Astronaut” showed a clean pair of heals down the line to touch down in the corner after a superb solo effort. This was only matched by McGrugan’s successful kick from the touchline to give the Dee a 14-3 lead.
Armagh came back well after conceding these 2 tries and retained possession well in the Dee 22. The pack worked hard round the corners and were eventually rewarded as they bundled their way over underneath the posts to bring the score back to 14-10.
The game continued to be a scrappy affair, although Donaghadee began to dominate the territory. The pressure finally told, with the backs moving the ball swiftly from right to left for returning winger Andrew Cash to finish a great try in the corner. McGrugan kept up his perfect day by adding the difficult extras.
The game looked like it was starting to get away from the visiting Armagh side. However, some weak first phase defending from the home side gifted Armagh a route back into the game with an unconverted try bringing the score to 21-15.
With half time fast approaching, Donaghadee were pushing to extend the deficit to two scores, and were awarded the chance to do so when Armagh conceded a penalty 30 meters out in front of the posts. The ball was again handed to McGrugan, who slotted the ball through the uprights to leave the score at half time at 24-15.
Armagh came out fighting in the second half and were mounting a serious assault on the Donaghadee line. A great tackle from winger Richard Bailey saved a try in the corner and, in rolling away, the referee spotted a blatant stamp from the Armagh scrum half on Bailey and sent him under the posts for 10 minutes. The home side cleared their lines and won the resulting lineout, only for Armagh to concede another penalty. Findlater found a good touch in the Armagh 22 and number 8 Tony Brown again secured good lineout possession. The backs sniffed an opportunity out wide and flashed the ball to the left wing, where right wing Richard Bailey had joined the line to finish off another great team try. McGrugan made it 5 from 5 with the conversion and 31-15 to the Dee.
Armagh were soon back to a full contingent, but Donaghadee were looking comfortable. This changed after Donaghadee were reduced to 14 men, with Tony Brown being sent to the bin for violent conduct. Armagh kept up the pressure and were eventually rewarded with a fortuitous try. As they moved the ball from right to left, they were allowed to continue after not 1, but 2 handling errors, both seemingly going forward. The left winger scooped up the ball and scored in the corner, somewhat to the disbelief of the home side. The visitors missed the resulting kick, making the score 31-20 with 10 minutes on the clock, and an away side now with something to fight for as a win was only 2 tries away.
Armagh came trundling down the hill and were awarded a penalty dead in front on the 10 meter line. With the scrum half looking to go quick, and their frustration growing due to the Dee defence, a scuffle broke out after a Dee man didn’t turn over the ball at first opportunity. The Dee man was dragged to the ground by 3 opposing players and, as 2 Dee men stepped in to defend him, a 30 man brawl broke out.
Astonishingly, the referee found no fault from the Armagh side and, to add insult to injury, brandished a yellow card to a bemused Andrew Cash for an alleged punch. The referee then dealt out a red card to a less bemused Morgan Ellis after spotting an alledged head-butt during the fracas. This left the home side with 13 men on the pitch and 5 minutes on the clock.
The Dee men held firm for the next few minutes before the referee brought a slightly premature end to the game after a serious looking ankle injury to Bailey and the threat of another brawl breaking out.
The final score of 31-20 preserved the 2nd XV’s unbeaten record at home after a very ill-tempered affair. The 2nd XV will now travel with the 1st XV to Coleraine next week as they strive to break their duck away from home this season. They now sit 3rd in their league, four points from the top, two games in hand and a real belief that this team has the potential to kick on from here and claim the top spot.
