A crisp autumn day at Deramore, saw the Perennials entertain our North West colleagues from Derry/Londonderry featuring our roving glamour model photographer Rab Irwin.
CLICK HERE for the shots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The kick off was delayed due to the lack of a match ball, but once it arrived the Perennials got off to a great start with a Neil McConkey quick pass to Michael McAlister, back inside to Don Thompson to score from 40 meters out. Kevin Simpson then added a second showing his opponent a clean pair of heels on the outside to score in the corner.
The second quarter started with a great team try with the move starting on our 22 meter line and finished by Michael McAlister, followed by a very strong run from our captain Stewart Porter from the halfway line, including several hand-offs enabling him to increase the Perennials lead to 4 tries to nil. Mr Porters’ wife, watching from the touchline, was well impressed with her boy.
The tries kept on coming with a break by Michael McAlister, great support from Davy Elliott resulting in a try for Tom Hyndman. We finished the quarter with another try, Stewart (The Creator) Porter finding Maurice Field, whose suspiciously forward looking pass put Peter Sandford in for a commanding 6 tries to nil half time score.
Derry got on the score sheet early in the third quarter with their No 8 scoring a good breakaway try, however Peter Sandford responded for the Perennials before Davy Barbour scored again for Derry, as Rab Irwin was waved through the Perennial’s defence. The quarter finished with a second try for Kevin Simpson to leave the match score at 8 tries to 2.
The final quarter saw Derry with a never say die attitude win the quarter by two tries to nil, leaving the Perennials winners by 8 tries to 4.
In the post match festivities our President welcomed Derry President Moss Dineen and their players to Deramore for the Martin McIvor Memorial match. There was a special welcome to Martin’s widow and daughter who had travelled down with friends for the game. Moss Dineen also outlined the programme of events for the Oldies tournament in May as part of the City of Derry year of Culture, including a civic reception at the Guild Hall, a tour of the Latin Quarter and an evening in the Bogside Inn.
Finally a big thank you to referee Tim Lowry and to Bernie McGrath for laying on the evening spread. Another successful day, and thanks from the President to all players and supporters who turned up.
