City of Derry RFC 42pts, Rainey OB 21pts
A five star performance earned City of Derry five precious points on day one of the AIL League @ Judges Road on Saturday last. Mark Nicholl’s men produced a display of power, passion and no shortage of skill to see off a significant challenge from revenge-driven Rainey.
Rainey came to Judges Road on Saturday determined to make amends for the embarrassment in the Ulster Senior League just a few short weeks ago, a game in which Derry cruised to a 48-8 win. They were a much more difficult prospect as expected. However, on the opening day of the All Ireland League season, Derry also stepped out, scoring five trys in all, out powering and outscoring Rainey in the process.
Derry needed just two minutes to state their intentions in this new season. The hosts were quickly onto the front foot, and they split Rainey apart with an exquisite passing move, Stephen Corr and David Houston involved before Ryan Campbell raced over for the first score of the AIL campaign. Richard McCarter, superb throughout, converted and Derry were on their way.
Derry’s dominance in the early stages was such that a supporter joked that Rainey finally got a hold of the ball ten minutes in when a supporter ran to collect it in the Judges Road car park. Derry were persistent in the opening stages and Rainey in their desperation, were being forced into errors, conceding a penalty which McCarter converted to make it 10-0 with just seven minutes played. It seemed as if Derry were in the mood to humiliate Rainey again, but the visitors soon hit back.
A great tackle from Stuart Simpson saw Rainey regain possession and within seconds they had a score back, Nicholas Stirling racing over before Mark O’Connor converted. The momentum suddenly shifted and less than ten minutes after McCarter’s penalty had put Derry ten point to the good, they were chasing the game as Rainey scored again.
It was now Derry forced on to the back foot leading to mistakes and Derry were caught short as they were overpowered in the scrum, forced back right to their line, where Colin Mitchell finished the job for the visitors. O’Connor converted again and Derry were suddenly 14pts to 10pts behind. Derry were dazed by that double blow and could have fallen even further behind but O’Connor sent a penalty wide of the target and the deficit remained four.
Mark Nicholl’s men were really struggling to get back into the game at this stage, and it took a moment of inspiration from Steven Jefferson to get Derry going again, the prop winning possession before setting his team onto an attack which ended in another penalty which McCarter again converted. Man of the Match Richard McCarter then turned on the afterburners as he raced through the Rainey ranks, only being stopped at the last illegally. McCarter picked himself up and scored again from a penalty and Derry were back in front.
But the best was saved for last in a high-scoring first half as Derry hit their third try in the final minute. A great run by David Ferguson turned defence into attack from Derry and McCarter carried the ball on before passing to Richard Baird who completed the try with a final burst through the Rainey back line. This time the conversion was missed but Derry had a comfortable lead at the break by 21pts to 14pts.
Rainey were determined when the second period kicked off but Derry were more so, and five minutes in they had their bonus point try when Stephen Corr showed great skill to race clear for the score, from which McCarter converted to make the score 28pts to 14pts. Despite that impressive start, neither team could build any momentum as a series of inquiries disrupted proceedings, and the game became scrappy as a result. But it was Derry who found their feet again midway through the half, and Baird had his second try of the day following another impressively patient passing move from the hosts. McCarter’s conversion made it 35-10 and the points were all but secure for Derry.
Not content with their haul, Derry hit try number five ten minutes from time, and a sensational try it was, Chris Barbour bobbing and weaving through the Rainey tackles, all the way from half way with his pace and power too much for a weary Rainey defence to handle. The conversion made it 42-14 and Derry were safe in the knowledge that the points were theirs.
Rainey, to their credit, dug deep and managed to finish the game strongly, Andrew Campbell scoring late on. The visitors pushed hard for the bonus point try, but despite a strong push in the closing moments of the game, the score eluded them and they left Judges Road empty-handed with the final score 42pts ro 21pts for the Judges Road men. Derry now travel to West Dublin on Saturday next to play NUIM Barnhall in their next AIL Fixtutre.
City of Derry RFC V Rainey: Simon Logue, Josh Lewis, David Funston, Chris Barber, Ryan Campbell, Richard McCarter, Andrew Semple, Steven Jefferson, David Ferguson, Sam Duffy, David Houston, Stephen Corr, Richard Baird, Stephen Ferguson, Stephen Dickey. Replacements; Chris Shields, Saam McAuley, Paul McFeely, Chris Cooper, Neil Burns.
