1st XV vs BRUFF (21 – 8)
Ulster Bank All Ireland League
On a fine afternoon for rugby at Stevenson Park Bruff kept Dungannon pinned in their half for most of the first quarter. Dungannon’s defence, superbly marshalled by Captain Paul Magee, held although they conceded a penalty converted by outhalf Tony Cahill on fifteen minutes.
0 – 3
Dungannon eventually got their hands on the ball and put pressure on Bruff. Following a missed penalty attempt Dungannon kept play in the Bruff twenty-two thanks to an intelligent kick by Kieran Campbell which was followed up by Chris Cochrane who forced the defender into touch. Following a Gannon drive when the ball was recycled Rowan Halsall, operating centre field, showed great determination to break through the first defensive line and power over from twenty metres for a gem of a try. Michael Lawton converted.
7 – 3
Bruff attacked again but the Halsall try had really put a spring in Dungannon’s step, good runs by Lawton, Magee and Telford put Dungannon on the offensive again.
Dungannon started the second half on the attack and breaks by Cochrane, Kirkwood and Magee brought play into the Bruff twenty-two. The ball was kept alive by Gannon and Chris Cochrane came off his wing for an excellent try after forty-five minutes. Michael Lawton converted.
14 – 3
Good work at the mauls by Rowan Halsall and Callum Threlfall put Dungannon in possession but when Dungannon were harshly blown for hands Bruff went on the attack. A great drive from Bruff got them the reward of a try through Dave Horan after fifty-five minutes.
14 – 8
From the restart Bruff put on pressure but eventually Michael Kirkwood cleared the line. Great work by Rainey, Cochrane, Duhig, Fry and Telford brought Dungannon well into the Bruff half. When the ball was turned over Bruff brought play up to the Gannon twenty-two and then with two Gannon players laying injured Bruff squandered a massive overlap. Dungannon’s stretched defence managed to halt Bruff when a Telford tackle forced a knock on. With Darren Simpson and Stuart McKenzie having to leave the pitch Dungannon had to regroup. It was one of the substitutes, Timothy Smith who took the ball clear of the Gannon line and up outside the twenty-two. Dungannon maintained the attack but Bruff came back again only to be stopped ten metres short of the Gannon line. Dungannon won the ball and a beautifully weighted pass from Michael Kirkwood to Michael Lawton saw the latter burst away past three defenders in the first instance. Nearing halfway Michael took on one defender and then another to streak over for a wonder try after sixty-five minutes. Not surprisingly after an eighty plus metre run Michael needed a moment to recover before he knocked over the conversion.
21 – 8
For the last fifteen minutes Dungannon attacked and Bruff counter attacked. From a five metre lineout Dungannon missed a golden opportunity to capitalise on the field position and Bruff broke away. It took a thumping Chris Cochrane tackle to stop a potential Bruff try in the seventy-eighth minute. The Faithful were well pleased when Referee Rogan blew for full time.
This was a good match with Bruff playing to a simple game plan very well, Dungannon had more of a cutting edge and all three tries were well worked although Lawton’s was easily the pick of the three.
Next week we welcome our old friends from Buccaneers.
Team: Michael Lawton. Darren Simpson (Stuart Lester), Paul Magee (Capt), Glen Telford, Christopher Cochrane. Kieran Campbell, Michael Kirkwood. Phil Whyte (Ben Howard), Adam Duhig, Glen Sinnamon. Michael Rainey, Aaron Fry., Callum Threlfall, Rowan Halsall, Stuart McKenzie (Timothy Smith), Christopher Knipe, David Spence.
Referee: Alan Rogan (Leinster)
Scorers:-
Tries: Rowan Halsall, Chris Cochrane & Michael Lawton.
Cons: Michael Lawton (3)
Pen:
Drop Goal:
3rd XV vs Ballynahinch (59 – 0)
Crawford Cup
Dungannon weathered an early Hinch storm to run out convincing nine try winners of this Crawford Cup Third Round tie.
David Irwin fielded the Dungannon kick off and for a full three minutes Ballynahinch didn’t get a hand on the ball. Quick recycling ended with Philip Stinson scoring the left corner
5 – 0
From the restart good movement by Hinch created an overlap but Gannon’s scrambled defence kept them out. This was the start of a sustained assault on the Dungannon line. That they didn’t score was a credit to the Dungannon defence, eventually Gannon got their hands on the ball and cleared their line. A burst up field saw returned skipper Chris Holland take and give to David Spence who crawled over the line but when unable to ground the ball had the presence of mind to recycle the ball for Gareth McMullan to drive over after twelve minutes. Jonny Patton converted.
12 – 0
On twenty minutes a Philip Stinson ‘stunner’ must have broken Hinch’s hearts. Philip showed his pace when he got possession on his ten metre line and turned on the after burners. He just had too much pace for the defence and after beating four men touched down between the posts leaving Jonny Patton with an easy conversion.
19 – 0
A great piece of rugby involving Simon Potter, Adam Booth and Jason Ferry put Dungannon into a good field position. A miss kicked clearance by Ballynahinch was fielded by David Spence who fed Simon McCarroll who powered over for the try. Jonny Patton converted.
26 – 3
Before the break we were treated to some forward thinking by the experienced Gareth Lucas. Finding himself in the open as he approached the Hinch ten metre line Luckie reckoned that a forty metre plus burst might just reduce his scrummaging power so he looked around and saw the younger, ever keen Andrew Caddoo and passed the ball. As he approached the twenty-two with three Hinch chasers snapping at his heels Andrew would be forgiven for having malicious thoughts about his former teacher. However the bold Caddoo concentrated on the job in hand and won the race for the line to score a fine try. Jonny Patton converted from the touch line with a great strike.
33 – 0
Five minutes into the second half Adam Booth sent Chris Blair through, Chris showed pace and power to run in from forty-five metres out. Jonny Patton added the extras.
40 – 0
Shortly after Jason Ferry ran for fully sixty metres before being stopped five metres short of the line. The ball was recycled and Jonny Smith ran over before performing one of those ‘showy’ Aston style dives that he had been practising in the bedroom for the past month. Jonny Patton again converted.
47 – 0
A good break by the lively Simon McCarroll was carried on by Philip Stinson and Jonny Patton who drew his man and sent Jason Ferry scampering over for a well deserved try on the hour.
52 – 0
Five minutes later a move started by Andrew Caddoo ended with a superb try for Jonny Smith, this time the finish was more traditional. Jonny Patton converted.
59 – 0
Despite another good effort by Andrew Caddoo Dungannon failed to score again.
A good performance from the IIIs although the score line is very harsh on Ballynahinch who kept at it right up to the very end.
Team: Christopher Blair. Adam Booth, Jonathan Smith, Jason Ferry, Philip Stinson. Jonathan Patton, David Spence. Gareth McMullan, Timothy Potter, David Reid. David Irwin, Gareth Lucas. Simon McCarroll, Andrew Caddoo, Christopher Holland (Capt).
Referee: Philip Marshall (Omagh)
Scorers:-
Tries: Philip Stinson (2), Gareth McMullan, Simon McCarroll, Andrew Caddoo, Christopher Blair, Jonathan Smith (2) & Jason Ferry.
Cons Jonathan Patton (7)
Pen:
Drop Goal:
4th XV vs Portadown (41 – 14)
Forster Cup
This was a good game and Dungannon played well to beat Portadown with seven tries in this Forster Cup semi final at Stevenson Park.
The scoring was opened in the fourth minute when Clive Whylie dashed over for a try. On eighteen minutes Jeremy Turkington drove over for a try. We were then treated to two quick fire tries in the twenty-eighth and thirtieth minutes when Clive Whylie got his second and big Lorcan Martin capitalised on a mix up in the Portadown defence to canter in for a try. The latter was converted by Richard Wright with the first successful kick of the day.
22 -0
In the forty-fourth minute Jeremy Turkington made a break on the blind side and sent through a neat grubber kick that Ryan Ferry gathered and ran over under the posts giving Ricky Wright an easy conversion.
29 -0
A lapse in concentration allowed an alert Portadown flanker to dive over for a converted try on fifty-eight minutes.
29 – 7
Dungannon restored the 29 point advantage two minutes later when Philip Hall raced away for a try again converted by Ricky Wright.
36 – 7
On seventy minutes Clive Whylie completed his hat trick with a typical ducking weaving sidestepping Whylie special.
41 – 7
Portadown gamely came back and scored the final try in the seventy-second minute.
41 – 14
Overall a good performance that takes to boys into the semi final where they will meet either Ballymoney IVs or Omagh IIIs at Stevenson Park on 26 March 2011.
Team: Geoffrey Blair. Kevin McElduff, Philip Hall, Clive Whylie, Ryan Ferry. Geoffrey Wilson, Richard Wright. Keith Blevins, Rodney Lucas, Darran Lucas, Declan Treanor, Lorcan Martin. Colin Forbes, Jeremy Turkington, Steven Sinnamon.
Referee: Nigel Stronge
Scorers:-
Tries: Clive Whylie (3), Jeremy Turkington, Lorcan Martin, Ryan Ferry, & Philip Hall.
Cons: Richard Wright (3)
Pen:
Drop Goal:
Under 16 vs Ballymena (19 – 17)
Dungannon Under 15 19 Ballymena Under 15 17
Under 18 vs Ballymena (44 – 0)
Dungannon Under 17 44 Ballymena Under 17 0
