Donaghadee had a break from league action last weekend and hosted Letterkenny in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup.
These sides have enjoyed a great social association over the last few seasons, however this was a keenly fought game in which Donaghadee ran out 31-0 eventual winners.
The Donaghadee team that contained seven changes to the last league outing took a while to settle with the Donegal visitors enjoying large periods of possession.
After the opening quarter Donaghadee started to use utilise their back line with Mark Cooper looking assured in the out-half position. A try a piece from Ricardo Santos and Billy Allen, the first of which was successfully converted by Santos was enough to give Donaghadee a deserved 12 points to nil half time lead.
Although playing conditions were more difficult than in recent weeks the standard of play and skills level shown by both sides kept a reasonable crowd entertained at Donaldson Park.
Donaghadee dominated play in the second half and Bobby Harpur scored two well taken tries, one of which was converted by Santos to secure Donaghadee’s win.
The Dee skipper turned provider in the closing minutes breaking through the Leterkenny defence to off load to the supporting Stevie Garrett who scored under the posts. Santos made it three from five taking the final score to Donaghadee 31 – Letterkenny 0
Donaghadee Team vs. Letterkenny.
R Santos, B Allen,N Barker,B Harpur,C McGivern,M Cooper,A Lockhart (S Garrett) R Martindale, P Quinn, S Hutchinson, K Morrow, A Molyneaux, C Good (Gareth Gordon), P Hamilton, J Wilson
Donaghadee 3rd XV
Well done to Donaghadee 3rd XV who had a hard fought 14-10 win away to Ophir last weekend. Tries by Andy Cash and a first try in ten years from the workhorse Brian McCracken, both converted by John Campbell was no less than the travelling Dee men deserved.
Weekend Fixtures
There is plenty of action at Donaldson Park this weekend to wet the appetite for what promises to be an exciting weekend for Irish Rugby.
Donaghadee 2nd XV vs. Lisburn 3rd XV at Donaldson park (2.30 KO)
Donaghadee 3rd XV vs. Queens 4th XV at Donaldson park (2.30 KO)
