Seapoint RFC 18pts, City of Derry RFC 20pts
City of Derry 1st XV travelled to Kilbogget Park in South Dublin on Saturday last and eked out a hard fought victory against bottom of the league Seapoint. The game was in the balance until the final whistle as the Dubliners belied their lowly league position with a second half performance that showed team spirit, courage and a will to win. Derry led at half time by 15pts to 3pts following try’s from David Houston and David Funston but three unconverted in the second half from Seapoint who had the help of strong wind almost won the day. It took a magnificent team try from prop Sam Duffy to win the day for Derry and keep them top of All Ireland League Division 2B.
The conditions were atrocious all over Ireland on Saturday but in Dublin the wind coming directly off the Sugarloaf mountain and was going to play an important role in the game. Derry had the aid of the weather in the first half and were on the board from the kick off with a penalty from Andrew Semple and a 3pts to nil lead. Seapoint showed great resolve as they fought their way back into the game and they owned the ball for the next ten minutes as they denied Derry possession to capitalise on their wind advantage. Sustained pressure allowed Seapoint to level the scores on eleven minutes with a penalty from their out half Cian Buckley and it was 3pts all.
The Derry scrum was on top all through and Seapoint struggled for quality possession from the own put in. The Derry front row was all powerful with Sam Duffy, David Ferguson and Rory Squires forming a strong unit well supported by Adam Bratton and Chris Cooper in the second row. Derry won a penalty 20 meters out on fourteen minute but went for a 5 meter lineout and a miss throw in difficult wind conditions temporarily halted Derry. The Judges Road men had Seapoint pinned inside their own 22 and with John Burns playing like a man inspired ball on the ground was his and with support from his back row partners David Houston and Stephen Corr it seemed just a matter of time before Derry scored.
The first try for Derry came on eighteen minutes when from a 5 meter scrum the Judges Road men drove Seapoint back over the line and David Houston at No 8 touched down for an unconverted try and Derry were on front by 8pts to 3pts. Derry were well on top now but were struggling to get the next break through as their back three of Simon Logue, Ali Beckett and David Graham looked lively but quality ball with the wind was at a premium. Derry’s midfield defence was rock solid all day courtesy of Stuart Simpson and David Funstonas both carried ball forward at every opportunity.
John Burns and David Ferguson were winning turnover ball in the tackle and Graham almost got in for a try on twenty three minutes. Derry had the momentum but had to wait for the last play of the half to score the try of the game, David Ferguson made a great drive into the Seapoint 22 and quick support from Burns and Bratton gave Semple quality ball and Richard McCarter found David Funston at pace outside him and with a sublime dummy he had a free run to touch down for a try and when Semple converted Derry were 15pts to 3pts at half time.
Ger Collins had come on at prop for Derry and Neil Burns came on also. Derry knew they had a match on their hand as the second half was only four minutes old when strong driving from the Seapoint pack allowed their second row Mark McCoy touch down for an unconverted try and Derry’s lead was 15pts to 8pts. The Dubliners were right back on the attack from the kick off and their pack were getting the upper hand and it was no surprise when their pack drove over from a 5 meter lineout on ten minutes and their other second row Eoin Beatty touched down for a try and Derry’s lead was reduced to 15pts to 13pts.
Craig Huey came onto the Derry back row and played a role in Derry’s next score. The score followed continuous pressure from the Judges Road men on twenty five minutes, they showed great heart and a unity of purpose as they battled the strong wind. Derry pressure trapped the Seapoint full back in his in goal area and a touchdown gave Derry a 5 meter scrum. Derry won the ball and moved the ball from left to right and left again along the Seapoint 22 looking for a break through, John Burns drove forward and the ball was moved left then Craig Huey drove forward and quick ball saw Semple find the oncoming Sam Duffy who drove in for a fantastic team try and Derry’s lead was 20pts to 13pts.
Seapoint came right back at Derry and when their pack drove forward on thirty five minutes prop Brian Duggan touched down for a try, Buckley narrowly missed with the conversion that would have levelled the game but Derry were in front by 20pts to 18pts. Derry suddenly got their game heads on as to a man they increased their intensity with great line speed and fearless tackling that put inordinate pressure on Seapoint. The Dubliners could never capitalise on the momentum that should have been gained for that late try as under pressure they knocked on, miss kicked as Derry ran the clock down and finished out the game around the Seapoint 22.
The other contenders behind Derry in the league were defeated on Saturday with Highfield going down by 18pts to 13pts at Rainey and Armagh falling at Sundays Wells in Cork by 19pts to 15pts. Derry are at home next Saturday in the AIL to local rivals Rainey Old Boys from Magherafelt.
City of Derry RFC Team V Seapoint; Rory Squires, David Ferguson, Sam Duffy, Adam Bratton, Chris Cooper, Stephen Corr, John Burns, David Houston, Andrew Semple, Richard McCarter, Simon Logue, Stuart Simpson, David Funston, David Graham, Ali Beckett, Replacements; Ger Collins, Craig Huey, Steven Dickey, Neil Burns
