City of Derry RFC 7pts, Dungannon 9pts
City of Derry Rugby Club suffered their third All Ireland League Division 2B defeat of the season when Dungannon produced a performance of spirit, heart and hunger to cause a major upset when they narrowly defeated they league leaders at Judges Road on Saturday last. The scores in the game all came on the first half when Dungannon through their full back Paul Armstrong kicked three penalties and Simon Logue nipped in for a Derry try with the conversion coming from Neil Burns. This was the Judges Road men’s second defeat in a row and their worst performance of the season. Derry still remain top of the league eleven points clear of second placed Sundays Well who have a game in hand and come to Judges Road on the first Saturday in March, with four games remaining City of Derry’s destiny is still in their own hands.
Dungannon played with a strong breeze in the first half and with early pressure Paul Armstrong kicked two penalties on twelve and eighteen minutes for a 6pts to nil lead. The Derry scrum was well on top all day with Rory Squires, David Ferguson and Sam Duffy all powerful. Derry eventually got some decent pressure half way through the first half but on a couple of occasions were held up in the tackle to concede possession via scrums to Dungannon. Derry continued to get some quality go forward ball and Dungannon went off side on twenty four minutes and conceded a penalty just inside their own half. Simon Logue caught Dungannon sleeping with a quick tap and go penalty down the blind side and he was gone like a thief in the night without a hand being put on his as he touched down for a try by the posts and when Neil Burns converted Derry were 9pts to 7pts down.
Dungannon with the help of the wind came back strong at Derry but good defence kept them at bay as John Burns won a turn over penalty for holding on in the tackle to relieve the pressure. Dungannon with more pressure won a penalty on thirty seven minutes and Armstrong kicked another penalty for a 9pts to 7pts lead. Stuart Simpson was having a good game for Derry and made a few strong breaks through the centre but the home side were unable to put a few phases together and the score remained the same with Derry two points down at half time.
The rain arrived as the second half started and the elements were definitely in Derry favour and it looked just a matter of time before the home team produced the scores to win the game and put Dungannon to the sword. Derry were quick into the attack as they hemmed Dungannon into the corner five meters from their own line and it looked a certainty that the home team would take the lead. The first five minutes saw Derry get four 5 meter scrums three as a result of scrum penalties but lack of concentration allowed Dungannon to clear their lines. Continued Derry pressure saw Dungannon cough up a penalty 35 meters out but Derry missed the opportunity to take the lead.
Simon Logue was playing well and putting his body on the line with good tackling and Derry missed another penalty shot from 22 meters after twenty four minutes of the half. Continual Derry pressure saw Dungannon prop Steven Sinnamon sent to the sin bin on twenty eight minutes. Derry turned down a kickable penalty to kick for touch but a 5 meter lineout was turned over and Dungannon cleared their lines again. Derry with all their possession lacked shape, rhythm and penetration as Dungannon tackled like daemons and seemed to be relishing the physical challenge. Time was slipping away but Derry were on the attack for the remainder of the game but unfortunately missed penalty shots at goal on thirty six, thirty nine and forty minutes as Dungannon held on for a 9pta to 7pts victory.
Derry’s destiny is still in their own hands and they have being playing terrific rugby all season but have not played well in their last two games against Greystones and Dungannon. These disappointments happen in rugby as in life and the best thing to do is completely park the bad days then regroup and move on to achieve their destiny and win promotion to All Ireland League Division 2A.
City of Derry RFC Team V Dungannon RFC; Rory Squires, David Ferguson, Sam Duffy, David Houston, Chris Cooper, Steven Dickey, John Burns, Stephen Corr, Simon Logue, Neil Burns, David Graham, Stuart Simpson, David Funston, Neil Brown, Ali Beckett, Replacements; Ross Harkin, Cathal Cregan, Craig Huey, Richard McCarter, Ian Bratton.
