Dungannon had the perfect remedy for their humbling defeat by University College Dublin, a bonus point win in their next match. Paddy Johns’s boys produced a quality performance when they scored seven tries in their 51-0 win over Ballymena in the local derby at Stevenson Park. With James Bates providing the energy and Peter Nelson the quality Dungannon produced a memorable fifteen man performance maintaining the pressure for sustained periods and never really giving Ballymena any opportunity to put points on the board.
Dungannon playing with a strong wind moved the ball around and probed the Ballymena defence. Dungannon scored their first points on fifteen minutes from a rocking Paul Magee tackle that won a penalty. Peter Nelson stroked it over from forty metres. 3 – 0. A break down the left from Peter Nelson, Jaryd Bennett and Chris Cochrane put Ballymena on the back foot taking play up to the twenty-two. The ball was recycled and slipped from Rowan Halsall to Mark Jenkinson to Stuart McKenzie who found space and raced over from the twenty-two. Nelson converted. 10 – 0. Shortly after Ballymena lost a player to the bin when James Bates got raked. From the resultant penalty lineout Dungannon drove and Ballymena were penalised. Nelson neatly converted the penalty from twenty metres out on the left on thirty minutes. 13 – 0. Following a period of to and fro rugby Jaryd Bennett put a well judged kick into the Ballymena twenty-two. Play moved from left to right and when the ball was recycled Stuart McCloskey judged his pass to Birch to perfection allowing the flanker to go over and round behind the posts. Peter Nelson converted on thirty-seven minutes. 20 – 0. Some great play from Chris Cochrane and Ali Birch saw the ball moved out wide and Dazzler Simpson was stopped just short. Dungannon kept the pressure on and four phases later Paul Jackson dived over beside the posts. Nelson converted on the halftime whistle. 27 – 0.
Ballymena started the second half on the offensive and a great forty metre run was only stopped by the covering Nelson. However normal service was resumed on fifty-five minutes when a James Bates box kick was chased by Dazzler, when the ball bounced free the alert Paul Jackson took possession and swiftly sent Peter Nelson steaming through for a self converted try under the posts. 34 – 0. Two minutes later a break out of defence by McKenzie followed by interplay between Mark O’Shea and Jaryd Bennett before the supporting Ali Birch powered away for a try on the right. 39 – 0. A now dominant Dungannon with Michael Dunleavy making ground in the tight kicked a penalty to touch and drove the lineout. Following drives by Glen Sinnamon, Mark Farquhar and Timmy Smith it was left for Ali Birch who barged his was over for his hat trick of tries. Nelson converted on seventy minutes. 46 – 0. A good run by the returning David Egner gained Dungannon position in the Ballymena twenty-two. From a ruck Man of the Match James Bates broke away and when stopped slipped the ball to the ever supporting Rowan Halsall who crashed over in the eightieth minute. The conversion from out wide was just short but it left the final score 51-0 for the home side.
This was a fine team performance by Dungannon with every one of the twenty man squad playing his part. The ball was used efficiently and sensibly with forwards and backs combining to produce our best performance of 2013. However we must remember that this win will be worth nowt if we do not beat rivals Bruff next week.
Team: Peter Nelson, Darren Simpson, Paul Magee, Stuart McCloskey, Christopher Cochrane, Jaryd Bennett, James Bates, Glen Sinnamon, Paul Jackson, Mark Farquhar, Timothy Smith, Mark Jenkinson, Rowan Halsall, Ali Birch, Stuart McKenzie. Replacements: Phil Whyte, Ben Howard, Michael Dunleavy, David Egner, Mark O’Shea.
