What a change in a week at Donaldson Park. The bitter cold weather gone, hopefully for a few weeks at least, and two healthy rugby teams rarin’ to take on Carrick and Clogher Valley at Donaldson Park. The only blight was that the Martindale brothers, Ian and Richard, had both developed injury problems at mid-week training. But such is the strength of the full squad these days that they were quickly replaced for the first League game in ten weeks. This sadly had a knock-on effect on the Second XV who had to insert a couple of Third XV players for their Crawford Cup game against a Clogher Valley team that has been building itself a reputation this season ( details later).
On the main pitch it was fairly obvious right from Carrick’s kick-off that both teams were a bit tentative, even slightly rusty. The initial exchanges were somewhat tentative, but when the first quick ball was fed out to their backs it was the Dee backline that impressed. Sharply moved ball gave Andrew Findlater a chance to give or go, and he showed that he was there to penetrate his opponents’ defence. He was pulled down after a good attempt, but almost immediately the Dee forwards got the ball quickly again, and Findlater was off yet again. But this time the despairing tackles were not quite as sure, and he went over for a most welcome try well out to the home side’s left.
Richard Millar missed the difficult kick, but he did not have time to dwell on this because only a minute or two later Donaghadee were on the rampage again, this time to their right. This drive was almost entirely a controlled and inexorable drive by the Donaghadee forwards with Chris Schofield, Chris Hamilton and Paul Hamilton featuring strongly. The momentum stalled momentarily, but skilled recycling of the ball gave the ball to fast approaching Richard Millar about five metres out. A clean catch and the big lad’s momentum and a slight shimmy made him an irresistible missile as he shot over about half way between goalposts and corner. He took little time to convert this into a goal and a Donaghadee lead of 12-0 after only eight minutes.
Almost from the restart a solid Donaghadee scrum presented the ball very quickly to Alistair Lockhart. In an instant this sharp operator had spotted a small gap close in and was through it before anyone else could react. His pace took him past Carrick’s first line of defence where he saw that he had only the full-back between him and a third Dee try. Without even a hint of a check stride the scrum-half chipped the ball calmly over the No. 15’s head and was easily able to run past him as the Carrick man turned. Lockhart secured the ball again and went through the formality of touching down for his team’s third try and a new total of 17 points.
Carrick did manage to get a penalty goal for 17-3, but the next ten minutes saw a mixture of some Carrick attacks that were well enough snuffed out, many by text-book tackles from Billy Allen, Rory Garnham and Bobby Harpur. A succession of well executed Donaghadee attacks showed that their well-polished backline moves had not gone rusty during the enforced gap in the season. However it was the Donaghadee forwards who next troubled the scorekeeper. After some excellent hard-hitting defensive work from Kyle Morrow and the two Hamilton flankers, Chris and Paul, the forwards essayed a few co-ordinated runs. Clearly the enforced absence from competitive rugby had caused no problems for the Dee men as in an extremely impressive surge the power components of the pack, featuring hooker Gareth Gordon and the two props Chris Schofield and captain Chris Good were barging through some desperation Carrick tackles to give lock Stuart Hutchinson just a wee bit of space. This increasingly effective player then showed that, given such opportunity he can run as hard and well as any team-mate, and he scored the try that gained Donaghadee what might be a valuable bonus point later in the season with the team’s fourth try and a new score of 24-3.
It was perhaps inevitable that some of the Carrick players let their discipline desert them around this time, and the referee first had to issue some warning, and it came as little surprise when in succession two of the visitors had to visit the sin-bin for a wee think. As the break approached, Donaghadee’s outside-half Paul Blewitt went up for a high catch and landed awkwardly and turned his ankle. With no substitutions allowed at this level of League rugby football it was a bit worrying when it became clear that Blewitt would not be resuming. Half-time then gave both teams the chance to have a chat about how things might go in the new half.
After the turn-round the first few minutes of play showed all those present that Donaghadee had chosen to play with a back short rather than with the more usual seven forwards. Whether this was a tribute to their opponents’ pack is not known, but for Carrick’s part it seemed that at the break they had become resigned to being defeated, and their team discipline was now more obvious.
Harpur had taken on the first five-eighth duties now and the well-oiled Dee machine was looking as smooth and dangerous as ever. Chris McGivern raised hopes when his pace nearly produced another Dee score, but he eventually was hauled down and danger averted. In an almost opposite way full-back Allen had to dig in for a full-on chase of sixty metres to prevent a Carrick try, but his pace seemed still to be there when needed.
Schofield then brought the spectators to their feet (well, figuratively anyway) with an impressive run of forty-odd metres at pace. But, yet again what was most impressive was the hint of an All-Black approach in Donaghadee’s play. Of course Qualifying League football is a fair way from International level, but even though they were still playing a man short, it was very noticeable that every time a weakness was created such as by Schofield’s dynamic run, there was a mass of Donaghadee support runners to left and right of the ball-carrier. On this occasion the Carrick defence prevailed, but Gordon was able to force a scrum on the visitors’ line. When the ball emerged, Lockhart shot right. It was obvious that he just knew Millar would be on his shoulder to take the ball under the Carrick posts for 31-3.
All this Donaghadee scoring was very gratifying for the players, coach and spectators, especially with a big Town’s Cup game at Ballymoney next Saturday and about a dozen important League games to win between now and August. The determination of all the Dee men to kill off any opposition attacks right to the end of a hard contested game was apparent for all but their opponents to see and enjoy.
It was not to be long before Donaghadee had yet another scrum close to the Carrick line. With the result now inevitable it was no surprise when sums of money were being wagered on who might score the next try. The hot money was on Lockhart, but Number 8 Millar, not having heard the wagering, simply ignored the release to his scrum-half. He picked up and roared over the line to take the score to 38-3. Perhaps the Lockhart wager was just a bit early, because at the very next ruck/maul near the Carrick line it was he who accepted the ball after some great forward work and went over for the winning try and a final score of 43-3.
After their long weather-affected break both teams were grateful to get back to competitive rugby. Donaghadee’s eighty minutes showed that they had lost nothing of their power, skill and pace, and their players showed a clear increase in confidence as their play gradually convinced them that they really are a good side, and one that will be hard to beat in Qualifying League Two. For their part, the Carrick men must be pleased enough to get back to playing, and their fairly young team shows promise that they are more than able to hand out a few defeats in what is left of the season.
Donaghadee team: Billy Allen, Chris McGivern, Bobby Harpur, Andrew Findlater, Rory Garnham, Paul Blewitt, Alistair Lockhart: Chris Good (c), Gareth Gordon, Chris Schofield, Kyle Morrow, Stuart Hutchinson, Chris Hamilton, Paul Hamilton and Richard Millar.
Seconds lose close contest
Clogher Valley Seconds’ reputation had preceded them to Donaghadee. The players on the CIYMS team that the Dee Seconds had defeated a few weeks ago in the Crawford Cup had warned their conquerors that their Tyrone opponents would be a tough proposition. Already depleted by injuries up the club, Donaghadee took the field in apprehensive mood.
They need not have worried by a shortage of class or ability. This team is a good mix of young players with potential and a few wise and some slightly older heads. With no intention of insulting some players, it was rewarding to see the nous of forwards like Davy Thompson and backs such as Andy Monson inspiring the young tyros who were playing for their schools a year ago.
Throughout the game it was nip and tuck. A try here – a penalty goal there – this was anybody’s game right up to the end. At the end of eighty minutes it was actually, and possibly just deservedly, Clogher Valley who were in front by a slender 12-10 when the whistle for no side was blown. Best wishes to Clogher Valley in the next round, but serious congratulations to Donaghadee’s Seconds on an impressive display. Especially for the younger players on this team, note was being taken of many of these players who may find themselves drafted on to the First XV at some time soon if and when needed.
This Saturday
As mentioned above, Donaghadee’s 1st XV play Ballymoney in the Provincial Town’s Cup this coming Saturday (5 Feb) and on the same day the Thirds entertain City of Derry in the McCambley Cup at Donaldson Park. On the preceding Friday evening (4 Feb) Donaghadee’s Seconds go to County Antrim to play Ballyclare 3 under their floodlights at 7.30pm.
For Your Diary
Donaghadee’s First XV will be playing Grosvenor HSFP at Belmont on Feb 12, the Second XV and the Thirds are at Donaldson Park, the former taking on Belfast Harlequins 3 and the Thirds playing Grosvenor 4. All games kick off at 2.30pm.
International Tickets
It is probably a bit late for Spring 2011 International Tickets, but you might try Jim Lyttle to see if he still has a few left for Ireland’s games against Scotland and Italy, but those for France, Wales and England are sold out.
