Following the cancellation of both the 1st and 2nd XV’s games on Saturday past, due to their respective opponents being unable to fulfil the fixture, Donaghadee Rugby Club’s 3rd XV were its sole representatives as they made the trip to Randalstown in a Minor League East game. Winning the toss, captain for the day Phil Weston chose to play the first half with the bright April sun shining on the Dee men’s backs.
In what turned out to be a keenly fought, competitive, and end-to-end game, Randalstown drew first blood with an early converted try. Making only his second appearance of the season for the Thirds, and delighted to be handed the chance to show more than a quick pair of heels, Rory Garnham showed some strong running, solid defence, and good distribution from the outside-half position, and when offered the chance to reduce the arrears with a 30 yard penalty, he duly snapped this up to leave a scoreline of 7-3.
In a hard fought first half Donaghadee were forced to introduce their two substitutes – firstly debutant Duncan Campbell joining the field as his brother John succumbed to a bang on the head and a twisted knee; and then Conrad Jankowski making a long awaited return from injury and canine assault when Mark Mitchell was left more dazed and confused than is usual, following a collision with a teammate’s knee.
Randalstown were soon to extend their lead with a well worked line-out move – the advantages of fielding a side that trains together. Following a penalty and a kick for touch, the ball was quickly fed to the front of the lineout, and with only yards to make their front row forward was able to burrow over. An excellent conversion from out wide saw them take a 14-3 lead. Victor Vine-Thorpe, who tirelessly attacked Randalstown with ball in hand for much of the afternoon, managed to find enough space to build up a head of steam, and proved unstoppable as he crossed the Randalstown line for a Donaghadee try. The conversion narrowly missed and the half-time drinks break was welcomed with the scoreline favouring the hosts 14-8.
In recent weeks the half-time break was the undoing of this Donaghadee side, with a good first half performance not being followed up in the second. Sensing a victory however Donaghadee resumed the second half as they had finished the first – running hard at Randalstown with ball in hand, supporting the runner and securing ruck-ball well, and giving possession to a strong back line featuring returning students Chris Woods and Conor Fulton. After sustained pressure through strong running from back-row-forward Stuart Robinson who had been drafted into the centre, good handling by Gavin Wallace and Simon Woods, and more forward pressure from the pack – came a penalty 5 yards out. Stuart Robinson, never one to shirk responsibility in these situations, took the ball in contact just shy of the Randalstown line, and the quick thinking Arthur Brown was on hand to supply a pop pass to the fast approaching Andy Ritchie, who duly forced his way through two opponents, and over the try line to open his try scoring account for Donaghadee.
A successful conversion would have edged Donaghadee in front, but the narrow miss left the score slightly in Randalstown’s favour at 14-13. By this stage Donaghadee were hampered by too many ‘walking wounded’; plenty of players were battle weary and carrying knocks. Following yet another carry into contact Vine Thorpe emerged clutching his ribcage, with the likelihood being a couple of cracked/broken ribs that could rule him out for any remaining fixtures the Thirds contest this season. Enjoying the fact that there were several players ‘of his vintage’ in Randalstown colours, Vic played on, in obvious discomfort, and continued to be a thorn in the hosts’ side with an eagerness to carry and tackle that defied his years.
In all respects Donaghadee were a good match for their hosts, with the front row of Richard Gullen, Andrew Walmsley and Mark Poole strong and solid. They more than matched their much larger opposition front row. The line-outs and breakdowns were keenly contested, and both sides made some good yards through strong running and good handling.
Randalstown however were to emerge as victors; as the weather turned from glorious sunshine to a good Ulster shower, so did Donaghadee’s fortunes. Following some excellent play by the Randalstown backs their centre was to break through and score out wide. A fine conversion, into a strong wind, saw their lead extended to 21-13. To rub it in the Randalstown out-half was to add a further 3 points with a wobbly drop-goal that was met with laughter and cheer in equal measure by the home supporters. The final score then: 24-13 to Randalstown. Many thanks to Randalstown for their welcome before the game, and the camaraderie after. Finally it should be noted that the referee had an excellent game and indeed showed a sound level of control and understanding of play.
Donaghadee 3rd XV: (1-8) Richard Gullen, Andrew Wamsley, Mark Poole, Mark Mitchell, Andrew Ritchie, Victor Vinethorpe, Stuart Robinson, Phil Weston (capt.); (15-9) Chris Woods, Simon Woods, Conor Fulton, John Campbell, Gavin Wallace, Rory Garnham, Arthur Brown; (subs) Duncan Campbell, Conrad Jankowski.
125th Celebration Day
It has been exciting and gratifying for the Donaghadee club to have had such a successful season to coincide with the celebrations of its 125 years in Ulster and Irish rugby football. In spite of a horrendous weather period in November and December forcing the cancellation of so many league fixtures the club’s First XV is still in serious contention for the Qualifying League Two title and promotion to Section One as reward for their success.
What has delayed the resolution of the difficulties of staging the postponed games from mid-winter – and hopefully garnering the possible league points has been a combination of having to arrange these games when opposition clubs have busy calendars and busy schedules too. One irony is that because these clubs could not fit a Donaghadee match into their own busy Saturdays, Donaghadee’s First XV players have found themselves with a number of inactive Saturdays. Although Donaghadee’s Match Secretary Francis Porter has been on the phone on an almost daily basis trying to sort out this problem with little success the club’s First team players now face the prospect of being forced to play important and possibly league-deciding games every third or fourth day in April – a big ask in a very physical sport.
On Tuesday this week for instance Donaghadee had to play closest league rivals CIYMS in a possibly decisive game with the prospect of another equally testing trip to Omagh to play that strong club this Saturday (9 April). This Thursday (that is today 7 April for some readers) the Seconds are playing Ballynahinch 5ths at Ballymacarn Park.
. The following Wednesday (13 April) the First XV host Lisburn at home at 7.30 p.m. .
The most welcome successes in other areas of Irish rugby football this season have now posed another problem for Donaghadee. All this rugby year has seen a gradual build-up to the commemorative game against an ex-Irish invitational selection and grand 125th Dinner at Donaldson Park on 16th April that has been mentioned in their rugby reports for some time now. The well appreciated successes of Ulster, Leinster and Munster in both Magner’s League and Heineken Cup have now put a great deal of time pressure for extra matches on the players and officials in all three provinces.
One of the unexpected side–effects, and certainly the one that affects Donaghadee most, is that a number of recently retired high-quality players have commitments, either professional or moral, to one or other of these Provincial sides. The most unfortunate surprise, because of its timing, is the late change of date for the Leinster v. Ulster Magner’s League game in Dublin. This had been scheduled for Friday 15th April, but was recently changed to Saturday 16th.
All this means that the organisers in DRFC have been working very hard to provide as entertaining a fixture as they had originally planned for that Saturday. A big help has been that Ex-Ireland International Mick Quinn has promised to bring a core of players from this season’s highly successful Lansdowne RFC’s First Team of which he is the manager. Also, as many specially invited guest players as can be free to play at Donaghadee will be added to the overall squad and this should provide some fine entertainment in the afternoon, not to mention a stern test for the Donaghadee XV who had been expecting an easy and friendly afternoon before the Celebration Dinner in the evening.
At the game there will be a voluntary collection on the Donaldson Park touchline, with the money being donated to the IRFU Charitable Trust. After what should be an interesting game and the subsequent clubhouse crack, the grand dinner will be provided that evening by caterers Posh Nosh in the luxury marquee hired for the purpose with a number of celebrity guests and some invited speakers such as Mick Quinn, Noel McClarnon and Colin Barkley.
Important Annual Events
Don’t forget Thursday 12th May. This is the club’s AGM, (all nominations for Council posts and team captains should now have been submitted). To round off what has so far been an exceptional season there will be the Annual Club Dinner on Friday 20th May.
John Kane
The members of the Donaghadee club have recently heard that club stalwart John Kane has been seriously unwell. John has had a hard time in the past year and certainly did not need anything more. He is currently in good hands at home where he is under the expert care of his wife Helen. The club members would like to wish John all the best and hope that he is soon restored to health.
