Kukri Qualifying League Section 3
Letterkenny 12 Limavady 24
For the second week in a row it was derby day for our 1st XV. After a win in the mud over UUC last week, it was a run into County Donegal to face Letterkenny 1st XV at Dave Gallagher Memorial Park.
The win the previous week certainly took its tool on the squad this week with Luke Faulknour, Robert Lamberton, Adam McIlmoyle and Peter Wilson all unavailable. Added to this list goes the the name of Greg Jordan who has returned to New Zealand for a family holiday for a few weeks. This meant there were recalls for prop Clive Scott, full back Tom McClelland and out half Matty Haslett. There were also debuts for Kent King in the back row and Ryan Purdy on the wing.
Backed by a huge vocal home support, the Donegal Men took the game to the unbeaten league leaders from the off, but despite dominating the opening quarter the closest they came to scoring was a missed penalty from out half Ryan Mortimer.
They were made to count the cost of that miss minutes later when following a quick penalty from scrum half Jamie Miller, Jack McCool played in Jamie Mo Miller for the opening score. McCool then kicked a sublime conversion from the sideline into the wind to settle down the league leaders. Try number two was a great effort from the visitors pack. A lineout take from Daniel Irvine laid the founds for a rolling maul and prop Clive Scott claimed the touchdown.
Despite falling down to 14 players due to an injury, the homeside who have been unbeaten at home all season upped the work rate and were they were duly rewarded for their efforts shortly before half time when Colm McNicholl crashed over for a try. With the wind causing havoc all day for kickers, Mortimer’s tailed away across the face of goal.
HT Letterkenny 5 Limavady 12
The half time ‘kick up the backside’ from Head Coach Paul O’Kane seemed to do the the trick as the Roesiders came out with a bit more fire in their bellies. Scrum half Jamie Miller put prop Clive Scott away for his second try of the day on 55mins, racing clear to get in at the corner from just outside the ‘Kenny ’22’.
But the homeside were not for lying down and were in determined mood to put an end to Limavady’s unbeaten run which has stretched back to the end of August. Sean Deery was going the right way about achieving that when on 65mins he broke through the Limavady rearguard following multiple phases of play. Ryan Mortimer added the extras and it was game on with the score 17-12.
But any idea that Letterkenny had of claiming the spoils were quickly dashed a minute later. Chris Tinney lead the charge with a storming run into the Letterkenny ’22’, but was stopped five metres short of the line, and from the resulting ruck, scrum half Jamie Miller nipped in to score under the posts. Jack McCool added the conversion.
With the lead back to 12 points Letterkenny threw everything at the Roesiders in the hope of getting at least a bonus point out of the game, but despite conceding a number of penalties, the Limavady defence stood firm and claim a very hard earned bonus point win.
FT Letterkenny 12 Limavady 24
Team: T. McClelland, R. Purdy, J.M. Miller, J. McCool, S. Roddy, M. Haslett, J. Miller. C. Scott, J. Blair, J. McCollum, M. Rice, C. Tinney, K. King, P. Browne, D. Irvine.
So for the second week in succession the Roesiders came out on top in a very tough derby game in difficult conditions, with Letterkenny also makibg life difficult as they continually refused to accept defeat.
This bonus point win see Limavady extend their lead at the top of Qualifying League Section 3 to 17 points over the PSNI as we head into the Christmas break.
Next up is the 1st Rd of the Powerade Towns Cup on Saturday 2nd January when Q1 side Portadown will be the visitors to the John Hunter Memorial Grounds. A huge test that everyone at the club is looking forward to.
Saturday also saw Letterkenny and Limavady go to battle in an Over 35 / Legends match. In a quite competitive battle the Roesiders came out on top of this one too on a 12-5 scoreline thanks to tries from Nick Brown and Alan Kilburn. Also a special word of thanks to everyone at Letterkenny RFC for excellent hosts and looking after such a big travelling party.
