Donaghadee II XV continue impressive pre-season

DEE 2^nd XV CONTINUE IMPRESSIVE PRE-SEASON

In the absence of Kukri Qualifying League One season opener taking place last Saturday when the game was postponed due to a bereavement in the CIYMS Club Donaghadee 2nd XV welcomed a Civil Service Select side to Donaldson Park on Saturday morning for the former’s  last warm-up game prior to the start of their league season the following week .  Civil Service brought down their 2nds squad strengthened by 6/7 1st XV players. For their part Donaghadee II Coach John West called on the experience of 1st XV regulars Billy Allen, Mark Cooper & Gareth Gordon the first two returning from illness & injury and the latter making his first appearance of season. Adam Torrans & James Cheshire also returned from injury and last year’s 2nd XV skipper Kyle Morrow strengthened the second row. Unfortunately this was countered by this year’s skipper Stephen Cullen, Paul Blewitt & Josh Schofield missing due to injury. In an entertaining game the Dee side proved too strong for their Stormont opponents and ran out convincing winners by a 40-5 score line. Six tries were scored through Billy Allen, Andrew Findllater, Mark Cooper, Andrew Mitchell and Chris Scott (2) with Cooper adding five out of six conversions. An excellent run-out for the 2s then and thanks are due to Civil Service for accommodating the 11am kick-off which was due to the plans originally in place for a festival of rugby at Donaldson Park with the opening Q1 game v CIYMS in the afternoon.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

Membership subscriptions for 2014/15 are now due and payable and members are reminded that every effort should be made to make payment to Membership Secretary Jonny Ballagh as soon as possible.

THIS WEEK

The 1^st XV’s delayed start to the league season takes place this week when they travel to The Cran, Fivemiletown where they will meet old adversaries Clogher Valley. The last time the two sides met was at Ravenhill on Easter Monday when Valley ran out 15-7 winners in the final of the Powerade Towns Cup. The 2^nd XV welcome Ballymoney III to Donaldson Park and will be hoping to carry their pre-season form into this Junior League confrontation. Both games kick off at 2:30pm.