Preview
All Ireland League Division 2A
City of Derry RFC V Highfield
Saturday 1st February 2014 @ Judges Road
Kick-off; 2.30pm
By; Moss Dineen
City of Derry Rugby Club welcomes Highfield from Cork to Judges Road this Saturday for a must win fixture in All Ireland League Division 2A with a 2.30pm Kick-off. The Judges Road men were surprisingly well beaten away to Banbridge in the AIL last Saturday in a game that they were expected to win easily considering they have not tasted defeat against the Co Down men in six fixtures since Derry returned to senior rugby in the season 2010-2011.
Derry have played Highfield eight times in the All Ireland League since its inception in the season 1993-1994 with the Judges Road men travelling to Cork six times and this Saturday’s game only the third time at home. The last time City of Derry took on Highfield in AIL was last season down in Cork in Division 2A. The Cork men were down in the basement of the table heading for relegation with Derry flying high in the top four of the League. Highfield had sacked their coaching staff on the Tuesday before the game and their Captain and a few players took over the preparation of the team. The Corkonians played like men inspired and gave a performance which belied their lowly position as they defeated Derry by 21pts to 13pts a result that helped them avoid relegation.
The second last time these two teams played one another was in season 2010-2011 also down in Cork but then it was in AIL Division 3. The Judges Road men ran out convincing winners on the day by 40pts to 21pts and in the process went on to win the league title and promotion to AIL 2A. Highfield played their rugby after that in AIL Division 2B when the leagues were restructured and finished third behind Cashel and Banbridge but won a playoff against Thomond to also get promoted to AIL 2A.
Derry have played nine games in AIL 2A this season winning six and drawing one and loosing twice. Highfield have also played nine games winning three and loosing six. Derry are lying in joint third in the table four points behind second places Queens’s while Highfield are in danger of relegation again this season, third from bottom of the table. The problem with Highfield coming to Derry is that they have won their last two games and are hitting a bit of form. They defeated Seapoint in Cork last weekend and went to Limerick before that and defeated Old Crescent by 13pts to 12pts.
Derry have shuffled their pack around on Saturday with Paul McFeely replacing Sam Duffy at tight head prop. Bob McKillop starts his first game of the season with Stephen Corr moving to wing forward to replace Richard Baird who is carrying an injury. Neil Burns returns after illness to out half and Andrew Simple moves to scrum half, Josh Lewis returns from injury to the wing and Simon Logue takes over at full back.
City of Derry Coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair will be hoping for an improved performance from their charges in front of a home crowd. Everyone was disappointed with the result last Saturday but it was the inept performance that disappointed and hurt most especially the players themselves. They are lucky to have a game this weekend in which they can prove to themselves and everyone else throughout Ireland that they are still serious contenders for promotion but against a rejuvenated Highfield it will not be easy.
City of Derry RFC Team V Highfield : Chris Shields, David Ferguson, Paul McFeely, Chris Cooper, Bob McKillop, Stephen Corr, Stephen Dickey, Stephen Ferguson, Andrew Semple, Neil Burns, Ryan Campbell, Adam Bratton, David Funston, Josh Lewis, Simon Logue. Replacements: Sam McAuley, Sam Duffy, Steven Jefferson, Richard Baird, Mark Robinson.
