City of Derry Rugby Club travelled to Munster on Saturday last and came away with a well deserved victory against Thomond in their All Ireland League Division 2A fixture. This result continues Derry’s good run of form with their seventh consecutive win in all competitions. The North West men were 10pts to 3pts down at half time but five superb try’s and 34pts on the scoreboard ensured a bonus point victory. That result continued Derry’s march up the League Table and could end with them achieving their goal for the season of a top four finish and who knows with just four games to go a second place finish and a play off for promotion could be a reality rather that a dream.
The conditions in Limerick on Saturday were dry for the most part and reasonable for rugby with Derry playing with the advantage of a strong cross field breeze. The early pressure cam from Derry but it was Thomond who were first on the scoreboard after ten minutes with a simple move along the backline that saw centre Mike Russell get in for a try which was unconverted and it was a 5pts to nil lead for the home side.
Derry were finding it difficult to cope with the big Thomond pack at the breakdown and with little protection when ball was won for scrumhalf Andrew Semple the backline were never able to work with quality possession. Thomond were looking the stronger team and in typical Munster style they pick and drove to the Derry line on twenty four minutes and hooker Alan O’Donnell got in for an unconverted try and a 10pts to Nil lead for the Limerick men and things were not looking good for the visitors.
Derry did eventually get some quality possession in the Thomond half but with lack of penetration they failed to threaten the Thomond line. Their increased time on the ball gave the Derry men confidence and continued pressure saw repeated infringements at the breakdown and it was no surprise when Thomond had Alan O’Donnell sent to the sin bin after thirty eight minutes and Richard McCarter kicked the resultant penalty from 20 meters in front of the posts and Derry were down by 10pts to 3pts as the referee blew the half time whistle.
Derry supporters would have been apprehensive about the chances of a an away win after seeing their team play second fiddle for most of the first half. The coaches Bevan Lynch and Mark Nicholl set the template for victory to their players at half time and what a start they had to the second half with Thomond still down to 14 players. The Derry pack won possession in the Thomond half from the kick off and Andrew Semple found Peter Henderson on his right 40 meters out, he made the break to release winger William McCleery who in turn showed a clean pair of heels as he scored in the corner for an unconverted try and Derry were right back in the game at only 8pts to 10pts down.
It was now all Derry as they were populating the breakdown with more intensity and began to produce quality possession for an always dangerous backline. It was only a matter of time before they tool the lead and they did this after 16 minutes with an excellent penalty from Richard McCarter 40 meters out and Derry were 11pts to 10pts in front. The Derry forwards were now in control with the back row of Stephen Corr, Stephen Duffy and Richard Baird outstanding and they had terrific support from Man of the Match David Houston in the second row. Derry lost Corr to a shoulder injury early in the half but after 16 minutes Gareth Beatty and Chris Shields won good ball in the Thomond half and released David Houston to make a telling break and as he drew the remaining defender he released Simon Logue who finished in style with a try which McCarter converted and Derry‘s lead was 18pts to 10pts.
Thomond reduced the arrears on 26 minutes with a penalty from Michael Ryan and Derry lead was 18pts to 13pts. Brian Prue had returned to fray after the loss of Corr to play a decisive role in Derry’s victory as he was prominent in the loose and won great ball at the lineout. The Derry defense was solid as Ryan Campbell, Adam Bratton and Chris Barbour along with Sam Duffy and Cathal Cregan forced Thomond to spill ball as they tried to build phases and Derry cleared their lines on the back of a strong scrimmaging performance. Derry increased the intensity and when they kicked loose ball to Simon Logue in his own half he punished them as only he can with a mesmeric break which released the impressive Chris Barber to make an outside break himself and give Richard McCarter a run in try which he converted himself for a 23pts to 13pts lead.
Thomond had run out of steam at the game came to its conclusion and with the Derry pack out Munstering them with pick and drive rugby Peter Henderson got in for the bonus point try on 39 minutes which Richard Peoples converted and Derry lead by 30pts to 13pts. Thomond kicked off and when Josh Lewis released Sam McAuley to make an impressive powerful break to take play inside the opposition half he passed to the supporting Richard Peoples who ran in under the posts from 40 meters out and he converted himself to bring the final score to 37pts to 13pts and a great victory on Munster soil.
City of Derry RFC Team V Thomond: Chris Shields, Sam McAuley, Sam Duffy, David Houston, Brian Prue, Stephen Corr, Stephen Duffy, Richard Baird, Andrew Semple, Richard McCarter, Simon Logue, Ryan Campbell, Chris Barbour, William McCleery, Peter Henderson. Replacements: Cathal Cregan, Gareth Beatty, Adam Bratton, Richard Peoples, Josh Lewis.
