Donaghadee 13 – 10 Academy
The game started with the Dee playing up the hill and a well-placed kick put the home side under pressure in their own 22.
However the crowd’s spirits were lifted as the Dee pack took the line-out catch and drove their opposition fully 30 yards up field
before clearing to safety.
However after 5 minutes Academy took the lead as their full-back scored a try in right corner after their left-wing
came into the line. The touchline conversion by the number 10 made the score 7-0.
Dee had several attacks up the hill with one notable run by McGrugan causing panic in the visitors’ defence. Unfortunately
the home side missed a couple of penalty chances to get on the scoreboard. However the Dee eventually scored after 32
mins with Jonny Quigg flick inside as he was heading to touch taken by Chris Good who powered over in the corner. The
difficult conversion narrowly missed to leave the score 7-5.
Academy were awarded a soft penalty in injury-time on Dee 22 and this was converted by out-half to make score 10-5
at half-time.
The majority of the second-half was dominated by Dee and played in the Academy half with the visitors relying on the kick
and chase to relieve the pressure. On one notable occasion Billy Allen fielded one such clearance in his own 22 and returned it
with interest to find touch 15 metres from the Academy line.
Paul Blewitt was organising matters for the Dee backline and kept the home side in good field position. Several times the
Dee pack pounded away on Academy line but good goal-line defence held Dee out. Finally the referee awarded the Dee a
penalty which was converted by Paul Blewitt to make the 10-8.
The Dee went back on the attack as full-time approached, again tried to rumble over the line with the pick and drive. Just
when it seemed that Academy would hold out, the ball was switched to the blind side where Jack Cooke showed his strength
to score the try which put the Dee into the lead. McGrugan’s conversion attempt struck the post to leave the score 13-10.
However despite a desperation attack by the visitors, the Dee held on for a narrow but deserved victory.
