CIYMS 14 DONAGHADEE 24
Donaghadee arrived at Belmont to the news that blindside flanker Richard Martindale had had to cry off due to sickness and, allied to the fact that open side Chris Hamilton had not yet recovered from injury, the portents were not good for another must win game for the Dee against a side who had very narrowly missed making the final of the All Ireland Junior Cup the previous week. Matthew Stockton moved back into the pack from the right-wing to cover for the missing Martindale with Chris Woods coming in on the wing.
The Dee started strongly and, in what was to be a key feature of the game, were knocking back their opponents in the mauls. The early dominance in this area was put to good effect when Donaghadee secured lineout ten metres out and mauled their way to the line with Matthew Kane gaining the touchdown which Mark Cooper duly converted to give the visitors a 7-0 lead. CIYMS infringed soon after and Cooper struck the ensuing penalty between the posts to extend the Donaghadee lead to 10-0. The Dee were making most of the running during the first half but were continually frustrated by coughing up penalties from which CI took considerable territorial advantage. One such scenario late in the first half led to CIYMS taking quick tap ball and exposing the Dee defence on the narrow side scoring a converted try to leave the half time score 7-10 in favour of the Dee. The Dee faithful, although hopeful at this point, were dismayed to see that talismanic full back Billy Allen was receiving treatment during the break and would play no further part in the game.
CIYMS dominated the early part of the second half and were soon in the lead after some skilful sleight of hand from their No. 10 Gareth Fry and superb running line from Phil McVitty led to the latter scoring untouched under the posts. The try was converted to leave the home side now 14-10 in the lead.
The Dee were however exhibiting a doggedness of both spirit and effort and with their back row of Stephen Adams, Max Montgomery and Stockton becoming increasingly influential in turning over the opposition the balance of the game was effectively turned when two consecutive lineout drives towards the CIYMS line led to a penalty try when the home team collapsed to maul. Cooper added the extras and the Dee now led by 14-17 with the game moving into the last fifteen minutes and the December gloom beckoned. CIYMS now attacked the Dee with some purpose but the latter’s defence held firm marshalled by skipper Alastair Lockhart who was having the sort of game which has made him one of the stand-out players in Q1 over the past four years. The Dee remained potent in attack led by Player Coach Paul McKenzie and centre Adam Alexander whose forays with the ball were causing no little panic amongst the home defence. With five minutes left the Dee turned over CIYMS ball deep in the formers half and punched forward through McKenzie, Alexander and the increasingly fiery Woods before handing over to the pack twenty metres out. The Dee maul settled and drove towards the CIYMS line before Alexander, who had remained with his forwards, dived over to score what was the final score which was duly converted once more by Cooper leaving a 24-14 result in favour of Donaghadee.
And so Donaghadee have now completed “the double” over CIYMS in the space of a month and will look upon this as a stepping stone in their efforts to move away from the Q1 relegation zone. Aside from those mentioned above their were resolute performances from the experienced Chris Good & Gareth Gordon in the front row, a controlled & aggressive 80 minute performance from lock Jack Cooke aided by his second row partner Kyle Morrow who had one of his best games in Dee colours. Thomas Slane coped admirably with his enforced move to full-back on Allen’s departure and substitutes Adam Lowry and Adam Torrans both contributed in no small measure to this hard-fought victory. Such a team performance does lend itself well to singling out Man of the Match performances but special mention probably need to go to Alexander, Cooke, Woods & the back row but most especially to Lockhart who has been carrying an injury of late but whose dogged physicality and core skills in both offence and defence was a defining attribute of the game.
FITXURES
Having received a bye in the first round of the Powerade Towns Cup the 1st XV have a break next Saturday. The 3rd XV travel to Stormont to play Civil Service II in the first round of the Butler Shield whist the 2nd XV welcome Lurgan II to Donaldson Park in the second round of the Forster Cup. Stephen Cullen & John West’s Twos having been going exceptionally well of late and would welcome all support in their efforts to progress to the latter stages of this competition. Both games kick-off at 2:30pm.
