DONAGHADEE 1ST XV 26 COOKE 1st XV 18
Donaghadee returned to league action last Saturday welcoming Cooke to Donaldson Park and although the Dee were slightly out of sorts in the first half of the game a disciplined performance in the second period saw them pick up their third win of the season and move to third place in the Q1 table.
Nigel Barker gave Donaghadee the lead in the 6th minute after an earlier penalty attempt was missed by the visitors. The penalty followed a terrific break by Rory Garnham who burst through a number of would be tacklers and although he managed to off load to the supporting Barker, Cooke were penalised for illegally spoiling at the breakdown.
Cooke deservedly levelled scores on the 15th minute with a well taken Robinson penalty from distance. The quality of rugby that the young visiting team were delivering during this period of the game was to be admired, with the summer conditions at Donaldson Park ideal for the off load game they were employing.
The visitors scored two tires in a five minute error strewn period when a failure by Donaghadee to deal with two loose kicks into the midfield allowed instrumental Cooke flanker Boyd to storm over on the 18th minute and outside centre Finlay on the 23rd minute – The second try being converted to give Cooke a 15-3 lead.
Those who are frequent visitors to Donaldson Park will not have been unduly concerned by this 12 point deficit as quite often it is with this type of uphill climb the Dee are most focused.
Indeed it was true leadership from seasoned campaigners Chris Hamilton and Gareth Gordon who gained a foothold on this game and created the conditions and example for Donaghadee to start the recovery with their combative performances in loose play.
Barker successfully kicked two further penalties before half time to reduce the HT deficit to 9-15.
Half Time Donaghadee 9 – Cooke 15
Donaghadee made a terrific start to the second half which ultimately set the tone for a much more coherent performance from the home side.
Captain Ali Lockhart picked the ball up from the back of a forming ruck on the 43rd minute and with few options to either side he took the ball into contact running directly into the visitor’s forward pack. The dynamic scrum half looked to have made a real dent in the defensive line and whilst the touch line anticipated the outcome of the resulting phase of play Lockhart continued to pump his powerful frame and completed a fine solo effort by stretching across the line to score Donaghadee’s opening try of the game.
Barker’s conversion was successful leaving Cooke in a position of chasing the game once more.
The visitors hopes of establishing a grasp of this game took a further dent on the 48th minute when centre Elliot was sin-binned for being adjudged to have deliberately knock the ball forward from a McKenzie orchestrated Donaghadee attack.
From the resulting penalty McKenzie looked to have ‘over cooked’ his kick to touch however it turned out to be an inch perfect nudge to touch that gave the much improving Dee line-out a chance to attack the visitors line.
The line-out ball was secured and after a number of phases close to the Cooke line Chris Good showed great technique to touch down from close range. An excellent team effort with great endeavour shown by the younger contingent of Cheshire, Stockton and Montgomery.
Barker’s fine conversion gave Dee a 23-15 lead.
Cooke kicked their second penalty of the day on the 55th minute to ensure that the outcome of this league game remained in the balance going into the final quarter.
The Cooke team however at this point were unrecognisable to the industrious performance shown in the first quarter, and it continued to be Donaghadee who looked the most likely to increase their lead, with Montgomery going closest on the 65th minute after a fine surge into the Cooke 22 side stepping the covering defence only to be stopped short of the line.
The final word of the day was however to go to the man of the match on the day – Nigel Barker. Barker’s 76th minute penalty was his 4th penalty of the day and it restored an 8 point advantage, securing the win for Donaghadee.
Donaghadee Team vs. Cooke:
M Cooper – B Allen – R Garnham – N Barker – R Irvine – P McKenzie – A Lockhart –M Montgomery – C Hamilton – M Stockton – J Cheshire – T Brown – C Good – G Gordon – S Hennessey Subs – A Barnes – D Murray.
Meanwhile the Dee’s young 3rd XV lost to a strong BHSFP 2nd XV at Greenisland.
THIS WEEK
This week the 1st XV head to Belmont to face old adversaries CIYMS in Kukri Qualifying One. CI suffered their first defeat of the season when they fell at Portadown last Saturday. As ever whenever these two sides meet a keen contest is anticipated. The 2nd XV have another week off whilst the 3rd XV will host Antrim 1st XV at Donaldson Park. Both games have a 2:30pm kick off.
ULSTER & FRIDAY NIGHTS AT THE DEE
After their first Pro12 victory of the season last Saturday in Galway against Connacht the Ulster side will hope to make it two in a row against Benetton Treviso at Ravenhill this incoming Friday night. The game will be shown live in the Clubhouse at Donaldson Park on the Big Screen with doors opening at 6:30pm. So if you’re not at Ravenhill head up to the Club for a bit of craic. Keep an eye on the Club Website, Twitter and Facebook for any further details.
SUBCRIPTIONS
All members are reminded that subscriptions are now overdue. Please contact either Paul Blewitt or Chris Good or visit the Club Website for details at http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/donaghadeerugbyclub/
