City of Derry RFC 43pts, Queens RFC Nil
Match Report by; Moss Dineen
City of Derry RFC confirmed their return to form with a comprehensive victory over Queens in All Ireland League Division 2A at Judges Road on Saturday last. Derry were four try’s in front at the break with the bonus point in the bag as they went on to score another three try’s in the second half to confirm their superiority on the day. Derry now move up the league table into ninth position and with only three games remaining their destiny is in their own hands with the goal a top ten finish to remain in the same in the same league next season.
Derry played with the strong wind and driving rain in the first half and on a very heavy pitch which deteriorated as the game progressed. Derry’s attitude and commitment from the off was spot on as they scrummaged Queens into the ground and engaged them in an arm wrestle that saw them spend the whole of the first half firefighting to keep the Judges Road men at bay.
Derry had a dream start and scored within two minutes, Richard Baird announced his return to the starting fifteen as Derry won a lineout inside the Queens 22. Baird took the line out ball and his pack drove forward and produced quick ball to scrum half Andrew Semple who found Baird inside him to touch down for an unconverted try and Derry 5pts to Nil in front. The Derry scrum was enormous and the front row of Chris Shields, David Ferguson and Sam Duffy dominated with powerful energy sapping drives as they were well supported by Adam Bratton and Captain David Houston from the second row.
It was all Derry with wave after wave of attack and they produced again on nine minutes to copper fasten their superiority with a converted try. Stephen Corr and Stephen Ferguson carried ball forward along with Shields and Houston but it was Peter Henderson who made the incisive break on the back of the others hard work. Henderson got in behind the Queens defence and found Adam Bratton in support who touched down for a try and when Semple converted Derry were in front by 12pts to Nil.
Derry were well on top of Queens who were busy trying to clear their lines but loose kicking out of defence was like manna from heaven for Peter Henderson who gobbled everything up and ran the ball back at them. The Derry pack were dominating the play but Chris Barber returning from injury and Stuart Simpson were looking dangerous when they got ball as were Josh Lewis and David Graham as well. Semple and Richard McCarter kept their forwards busy as they varied their attacking moves as all were enjoying carrying ball. David Houston got in for a great team try on 23minutes and when Semple converted Derry were leading by 19pts to Nil.
Derry were throwing everything at Queens to get that elusive fourth try and the bonus point by half time. The clock was almost in injury time when Derry through David Ferguson won a penalty 5 meters out and selected to scrum. Queens dropped the scrum three times, there was one reset and another penalty but Derry were never going to let Queens off the hook as they went for the juggler. Derry drove the scrum forward again and when Queens infringed once more the referee awarded a penalty try and Semple converted to leave the score at half time, Derry 26pts to Nil in front as the teams headed for the changing rooms.
Derry had the wind and the rain in their faces in the second half but Queens were still on the back foot. Henderson made a great break on ten minutes that should have yielded more. Derry Head Coach Terry McMaster brought on Bob McKillop. Mark Walker, Ross Harkin and Cathal Creggan after fifteen minutes to give his pack a new impetus. Peter Henderson was getting plenty of loose ball kicked down his throat and he made Queens pay on fifteen minutes when he collected ball and chipped ahead from over 20 meters out and touched down for an unconverted try the score was now 31pts to Nil.
Tiernan Thornton came on with fifteen minutes to go. Chris Barber came into the line beautifully on thirty minutes to show he is back again as Derry attacked the Queens line. Mark Walker, Bob McKillop, Ross Harkin and Creggan all had a go with Andrew Semple the fulcrum of everything along with Richard McCarter. Semple eventually connected with Peter Henderson on the left touch line to get in for an unconverted try and Derry were 36pts to Nil up. Rickard McCarter rounded off a great Derry performance on the stroke of full time when Mark Walker did the spade work and kicked ahead and McCarter collected in his stride to touch down for a try and Semple converted for a final score of 43pts to Nil.
Derry’s next All Ireland League game is away to Cashel in Co Tipperary next Saturday a place they have never won in Junior or Senior Rugby. If Derry can go there and win then with only two games remaining after that the goal of finishing in the top ten in the league should be guaranteed.
City of Derry RFC Team V Queens; Chris Shields, David Ferguson, Sam Duffy, Adam Bratton,, David Houston, Stephen Corr, Richard Baird, Stephen Ferguson, Andrew Semple, Richard McCarter, Josh Lewis, Stuart Simpson, Chris Barber, David Graham, Peter Henderson. Replacements; Ross Harkin, Cathal Creggan, Bob McKillop, Mark Walker, Tiernan Thornton
