City of Derry Rugby Club scored nine try’s to Instonians three in this one sided Ulster League Fixture on Saturday last at Judges Road. The game was over as a contest at half time when Derry had secured a four try bonus point and were 28pts to nil in front. This is the Judges Road men’s fourth Ulster League victory on the bounce having already defeated Malone, Rainey and Ards. They now face Queens at home next Saturday in the Ulster League ahead of their first All Ireland League fixture on Saturday weeks at home to University College Cork. CLICK HERE for 63 action shots courtesy of Bernard Doherty Professional Digital Photography
City of Derry Assistant Coach Ashley Blair said after the game “we played well for the first thirty minutes but lost our way a bit after that. We are delighted with the new boys who came in today and put their hands up for places in the coming weeks. The results have been excellent so far but they will count for nothing come All Ireland League time. We will judge ourselves as a team on where we finish in the AIL at the end of the season. We have to remain focused and work hard in training”.
City of Derry were on top from the start and the game was only three minutes old, from a lineout on the Instonians 22 the pack through Gareth Beattie, Tom Patton, James Fawcett and David Ferguson worked the ball into midfield. Scrum Half Andrew Semple moved quick ball from the breakdown left and found wing forward Adam Bratton who powered in for an excellent try and with Peter Henderson Converting Derry’s lead was 7pts to nil. Derry looked dangerous with Richard Peoples pulling the strings at out half with Simon Logue and Josh Lewis making some exciting runs on the back of solid play from Ryan Campbell and David Funston.
The remainder of the first half was the Peter Henderson Show as he nailed down a Man of the Match performance. Twelve minutes gone and it was Instonians first visit to the Derry half, they were turned over and Andrew Semple made the break to release Henderson to run in a try from the half way line, It was all Derry and Henderson was on the mark fifteen minutes later when fellow Limavady man David Houston made the break to the Inst 22 and Henderson was on hand to finish the move with a try to the right of the posts. Semple and Captain David Funston combined five minutes later to release the ubiquitous Henderson and he touched down again and converted as he had with his earlier scores to leave Derry leading at the break by 28pts to nil.
Derry brought on Sam McAuley and Steven Jefferson in the front row and David Graham at centre as the second half started. Graham and McAuley were quickly into the game as they combined with Josh Lewis. Graham found Lewis on the wing and he used McAuley as decoy before passing inside for David Graham to score and with Henderson converting it was 35pts to nil for Derry. Derry scored again on ten minutes when Graham and Lewis combined with Semple to send Henderson in for his fourth try which was unconverted and the lead was 40pts to nil.
Instonians to their credit showed pride and worked hard to get some decent possession. They got themselves on the scoreboard when winger Mathew Wright got in for an unconverted try on thirteen minutes. They got in for another try twenty minutes later, following good work from their pack that saw second row Nick McMurray power in to touch down and with Peter Magee converting Derry’s lead was 45pts to 12pts.
Stephen Duffy and William McCleery were on for Derry and involved immediately. McCleery, Logue and Lewis made a break from their own half on twenty eight minutes and when they linked with the strong running Bratton, he took the ball forward and Duffy was on hand to beat a man to touch down. Two minutes later Funston won possession at half way and off loaded to Simon Logue who sprinted in for a touchdown and Henderson converted and Derry were ahead by 52pts to 12pts.
Instonians came back at Derry on thirty six minutes and with the home defence in disarray Peter Magee kicked a 40 meter cross field pass to winger Jonny Martin who touched down foe an unconverted try. The final Derry score came on stroke of full time when Logue again made the break and offloaded to prop Chris Shilds who drew the last man to release his Newbuildings mate Chris Cooper to score a great try wide out and Henderson fittingly had the final say with a terrific conversion from the touchline to leave the final score 59pts to 17pts.
City of Derry Team V Instonians; Chris Shields, David Ferguson, Gareth Beattie, James Fawcett, Chris Cooper, Adam Bratton, Tom Patton, David Houston, Andrew Semple, Richard Peoples, Simon Logue, Ryan Campbell, David Funston, Josh Lewis, Peter Henderson. Replacements; Sam McAuley, Steven Jefferson, Stephen Duffy, David Graham, William McCleery.
