Last Saturday a good crowd of Donaghadee rugby supporters made their way to Belmont to watch their club’s First XV play a League game against CIYMS. Regular readers will know that this particular contest had been long-awaited because both teams can boast unbeaten League performances this season. Well, both of these fine records remain unsullied because yet again this season the playing surface was deemed too dangerous for football. For fans and players of outdoor winter sport such disappointments have become all-too frequent this record-breaking winter, but all over the world it seems, we just have to accept weather and climate frustrations, but because the frequency and intensity of such conditions are unabating they eat into the spirit. A careful look at this winter’s sporting calendar shows that the last time a Donaghadee First XV player kicked a ball in earnest was against the Ulster University/Coleraine on November 20. Yes, November 20. For those who have not been counting the weeks passing as avidly as the players, coaches and fans, this will add up to an amazing 10 weeks – that is if this coming Saturday’s League game against Carrick actually kicks off. To put this in perspective, this weather-imposed winter break is about the same length of time as the break will be from when the now inevitably extended season ends for the summer break, and the 2011-2012 season’s training begins in July. The only positive difference between these two long sabbaticals is that in the summer everyone takes a break to recharge the batteries and maybe a holiday, but this winter the players keep turning up for training each week, on cold but perhaps unfrozen Tuesday and Thursday evenings, anticipating that “next Saturday” they will finally have a competitive game – until the mercury drops again on Friday evening and the anxiously anticipated game is postponed yet again on the Saturday. Last Saturday’s hosts, CIYMS, provided a most acceptable lunch for their visitors, and those present were able to see live on the TV Ulster defeat Aironi to take their place in the Quarter-Finals of the Heineken Cup for the first time. (Think about it!) But however pleasant the day was, it was still a disappointment. Maybe this Saturday. This Saturday As mentioned above, Donaghadee’s 1st XV play Carrick this coming Saturday (29 Jan, weather and pitch permitting), and also have a pre-match lunch in the clubhouse. The club’s Second XV play in the Crawford Cup. For Your Diary If the weather continues to improve, Donaghadee’s Firsts will be playing in the Provincial Towns’ Cup on Saturday 5th February. Amazingly their opponents and venue are identical with their draw in the Junior Cup BF (before the frost), i.e. Ballymoney away. Although Ballymoney won that day, the encounter was very closely contested, and Donaghadee will be looking to begin a cup run there. That same day the Thirds have no scheduled game, but on the preceding Friday evening (4 Feb) Donaghadee’s Seconds hope to be playing Ballyclare 3 under the Donaldson Park floodlights at 7.30pm. If you haven’t bought your copies of the club’s 125th Anniversary Brochure yet, you can get them easily at the club or at any of the usual outlets in Donaghadee, Bangor or Newtownards. Also don’t forget that as part of their 125th Anniversary celebrations Donaghadee have arranged a grand match against an International XV (well, a few of them might be former Internationals – names later) at Donaldson Park for the afternoon of Saturday 16 April 2011. This fixture is being arranged through the Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust. In the evening there will be a 125th Gala Dinner that is already attracting a lot of attention, possibly because five highly respected speakers have promised to address the assembled company on the same evening. If you were present at any of such dinners held previously you will know that they are always memorable. If any club member would be interested in attending they should contact the organiser, Hans Arthur, at Grace Neill’s Pub in Donaghadee with details and numbers.
