Instonians 1st XV 27 Donaghadee 1st XV 7
The game started in reasonable conditions with Donaghadee having the wind on their backs at Shaws Bride. From the kick-off Instonians went immediately on the attack and after completing a mumber of phases scored their first try of the game. In the next passages of play the visitors started to get into the game a bit more but lack of discipline allowed Instonians to move forward and they took control of the match with a second try. As the Instonians kicker ran up for the conversion the ball blew off the tee and with great composure picked up the ball and dropped kicked the extra two points. At this point, however, the Dee began to really press the home team being held up short of their line on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately one of the home second-rows picked up what looked like a serious neck injury and the match was suspended until the ambulance arrived and attended to the player. After forty five minutes the game resumed with the Dee immediately on the attack and, after a grubber kick from Paul Blewitt , centre Paul McKenzie touched down with Blewitt kicking the con to leave the half-time score 12-7 in favour of Instonians.
The second half started with the home side quickly out of the blocks. With the weather deteriorating the game became a scrappy affair and Donaghadee’s woes were further compounded when Kyle Morrow picked up a yellow and Instonians used the opportunity to move up a gear and scored a further three tries without reply and send the Dee back home to consider how to get back on track and look forward to what is now a must win game against Dromore at Donaldson Park next Saturday. On a final note we are happy to report that the injured Instonians player suffered only heavy bruising and was released from A&E on Saturday evening.
Ballymoney 3rd XV 7 Donaghadee 2nd XV 19
The Donaghadee side travelled to Ballymoney in horrendous conditions with their promotion hopes still strong but missing many regulars like Richard Bailey, Blair Savage, Mark Mitchell and skipper Stevie Cullen to name a few. However with Robin McMurray making his return from injury and opportunity arising for others to come into the squad the Twos still had a strong team on display at Kilraughts Road.
The game kicked off despite torrential rain and gales and it was the Dee side who took control of the game early on. From the start the Dee men were on the attack with Gareth Martin and Davy Kirkpatrick both making strong runs into the Ballymoney defence. The early pressure began to tell as Ballymoney leaked many early penalties which allowed the Dee men early control and territory in the game. The Dee marched their opponents up the pitch putting together a ten phase play before Gareth Martin was eventually held up over the line. The resulting scrum saw the Dee pack put under pressure by the opposition however David Keys and Chris Scott did well to control the ball at the back of the scrum before Scott picked up and ran into the midfield setting up Chris McGivern whose strong running beat multiple defenders and allowed him to score a good try under the posts.
With the resulting conversion being duly slotted by Andy McGrugan the Dee men had an early 7-0 lead, however they were rocked by the loss of second row Sam Ingham who sustained an early injury to bring his day to an early end. The next phases of play saw Ballymoney fight their way back into the game, using the wind advantage they had to gain control of some territory, however strong Dee defence meant they struggled to get over the line, but they soon had a lineout in a position of some danger to Donaghadee eight metres out from the try line. Ballymoney won the lineout and got a drive on in the maul which the Dee men struggled to contain, and eventually saw the scores brought level to 7-7 as they drove over the line to score.
The final five minutes of the half were a frantic affair which resulted in a knock to Andy McGrugan which saw him taken off the field to be replaced by Niall Mcgrattan. However with both sides struggling in the poor conditions for the final phases the half was soon seen out with the scores level at 7 each.
In the second half the Dee side used the conditions to good effect and with the lineout functioning well and Rhys Thompson constantly hitting his man in the line it allowed the Dee to really control the game. The back row came to the fore as well with the strong running of Owen Roberts, the brilliant work at the breakdown by Keys and the great defensive work of Martin combined with hooker Thompson’s effort in the loose gave the Dee men a really strong platform to attack from, which the backs duly did through Kirkpatrick and McGivern’s strong kicking game and the running of Andy ‘the Gazelle’ Cash and wing Josh McCullough. Soon the Dee were in another very strong attacking position and, with the Toon reduced to fourteen after a number of penalties saw them suffer a yellow card, the Dee soon capitalised through captain McGivern who took a quick penalty and burrowed over in the corner for a 12-7 lead.
With time running out the Dee were soon on the front foot again however another injury meant a serious rejig of the team which saw Davy Kirkpatrick come out of the centres for a cameo in the unfamiliar role of flanker in which he blossomed and he made several strong clean outs in the rucks alongside Keys to allow the Dee backs to shine once again, and was Cash who continued his brilliant scoring record to again dot down for another try and a 19-7 lead.
The referee soon blew his final whistle to give the Twos another crucial victory which sees them go two points clear in the promotion places with limited games to play. The stand out players were Kirkpatrick who’s kicking game combined with his running game meant the Dee were always on the front foot. In the pack hooker Thompson had another excellent game both at set piece and in open play and Number 8 Keys performed brilliantly in the loose winning a plethora of penalties. Attention now turns to the 14th of March when, with a rest week this Saturday, the Dee men will welcome Randalstown 2nd XV to Donaldson Park for a Forster Cup Semi-Final and a crack at reaching Ravenhill.
Butler Shield
Unfortunately Enniskillen 3rd XV were unable to fulfil their scheduled Butler Shield Quarter Final at Donaldson Park last Saturday and so Donaghadee 3rd XV have matched the 1st & 2nd teams in also reaching a Cup Semi-Final.
Fixtures
This Saturday the 1st XV welcome Dromore for the final home game of their season, the 2nd XV have a rest week and the 3rd XV play Bangor 3rd XV on Thursday evening (tonight) under lights at Donaldson Park.
Schools Subsidiary Shield
All at Donaghadee RFC wish Regent House 1st XV every success in their Subsidiary Shield Semi Final this Saturday morning against Down High School. The game takes place at Circular Road, Newtownards with a 10:30am kick-off.
