City of Derry RFC 8pts, Ballymena 3pts
Match Report by; Moss Dineen
City of Derry Rugby Club recorded a famous victory at Judges Road on Saturday last when they defeated Ballymena in the first ever All Ireland League fixture between these local rivals. The game looked destine for a draw and was deadlocked at 3pts all deep into injury time when it took a moment of ambition from young Derry full back Simon Logue to produce a game changing moment to setup the winning try.
Ballymena were pressing for victory on the Derry 22 meter lines as their full back Rory Drysdale drilled a grubber kick behind the defensive line, enter Logue as covering full back to just touch down over the line for a drop out 22. Logue sprinted to the 22 and kicked down field to setup a miss match sprint for possession with the Ballymena Hooker John Andrew that took play just inside the Braidmen’s 22. The covering right winger Matt Johnson almost knocked on into Logue’s arms but the ball went to ground and a scrum to Derry.
The Derry scrum half Jack Caithness put into a dominant hometown pack and quality possession was assured, Caithness found Mark Robinson who had come off the bench at out half. Robinson worked a crash ball with centre Adam Bratton who feigned a wraparound move with Robinson, this fixed the Ballymena defensive line and allowed him to powerfully break through on the 22 and make his way for the try line. The covering Ballymena winger Jordan Foster sprinted across the field to tackle Bratton who was in full flight. He was unable to stop the giant centre as all he could do was to hang on as Bratton touched down for an unconverted try to euphoric scenes from Derry players and supporters.
The game started in perfect conditions with all the early pressure coming from Ballymena but Derry Coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair must be very proud of their team’s defensive performance all afternoon. The Derry backs and forwards were outstanding in their discipline, commitment to the tackle and trust in one another as Ballymena failed to create a single try scoring opportunity all afternoon. Derry had to go to the Bench on twelve minutes when Paul McFeely had to retire injured due to getting fingers in his eyes and unable to see, he was replaced by Bob McKillop who had to put in a longer shift than expected.
Derry missed a difficult penalty kick on fifteen minutes and had to bring David Funston from the bench on twenty minutes for Josh Lewis who had a hamstring injury. The Derry scrum was strong all afternoon and became more dominant as the game went on with Chris Shields, David Ferguson and Sam Duffy forming a powerful front row, Sam McAuley and Gareth Beatty came on in the second half to also help out scrum their opponents. Derry had another penalty miss on twenty nine minutes as they finished the half on top but the score remained nil all at the half time blow.
Derry had the better start to the second half with Chris Cooper and Richard Baird dominating the line out and along with back rowers Stephen Dickey and Stephen Corr the battle of the breakdown was in Derry’s control, Good play from Bib McKillop, Sam Duffy and Dickey won a penalty for Derry on ten minutes and Neil Burns put the Judges Road men in front from 30 meters. Derry were unfortunately caught off side four minutes later and Rory Drysdale put the team’s level at 3pts all from the resulting penalty.
Derry were having the best of the play inside the Ballymena half as the game entered the final quarter. Good play again from Ryan Campbell, David Funston and the back row of Corr, Baird and Dickey allowed half backs Jack Caithness and Andrew Semple to work Derry into a dangerous position. They forced the Braidmen to give away a very kickable penalty that could have been the game winner but it was missed and Ballymena were off the hook. Ballymena came back down the field and had a kickable penalty chance themselves but when Drysdale hit the post Bob McKillop collected to produce an awe inspiring drive out of his own 22 as he became the focus of support from his fellow forwards.
Ballymena went off side at the breakdown and had wing forward Matty Rea sin binned but that was equalised a minute later when Derry’s David Funston was sent to the bin for the afternoon on thirty five minutes. Ballymena came looking for victory as the game clock ran out and the impossible was made possible courtesy of Simon Logue, Jack Caithness, Mark Robinson and star man Adam Bratton. Stephen Corr, Richard Baird and Stephen Dickey were outstanding all afternoon but the Man of the Match accolade must go to scrum half Jack Caithness who was everywhere all day linking with back and forwards while always playing heads up rugby. This win keeps Derry’s season still on course vying for promotion around the top of the All Ireland League Division 2A table.
City of Derry RFC Team V Ballymena : Chris Shields, David Ferguson, Sam Duffy, Chris Cooper, Paul McFeely, Stephen Corr, Stephen Dickey, Richard Baird, Jack Caithness, Andrew Semple, Ryan Campbell, Adam Bratton, Neil Burns, Josh Lewis, Simon Logue. Replacements: Sam McAuley, Gareth Beatty, Bob McKillop, Mark Robinson, David Funston.
