Junior Cup: City Of Derry Rugby II XV 37 v Larne Rugby I XV 7:

City of Derry 2nd’s progressed to the next round of the Junior Cup and maintained their unbeaten start to the season with 37-7 win over Larne 1sts at Judges Road on Saturday.

Larne started the game well with the strong breeze behind them and pressurised the home defence.

This pressure eventually lead to 2 kickable penalties in the first 5 minutes, both of which the Larne out half missed.

Derry soon began to settle and gain the upper hand in the tight and loose exchanges building good phases of play to attack the Larne defence.

Following a period of sustained pressure centre Gary Boyle crashed over for a try which Adam Parke converted on 19 minutes.

Indeed Derry should have increased their lead after another good attack but, with no one to beat and the line at his mercy, winger Phil Duffy dropped the ball 10 metres out.

Just before half time and against the run of play, the Larne scrum half picked up, split the Derry defence & showed good pace to beat the cover and score a try by the posts which was converted to leave the half time score 7-7.

3 minutes into the second half Derry drove into the Larne ‘22’. Scrum half Ian Vance fed hooker & captain Cathal Cregan who dummied the fullback and strolled under the posts to leave Parke the formality of adding the conversion points.

Larne rallied and attacked immediately from the restart and only 2 superb tackles in quick succession by ‘Man of the Match’ William McCleery prevented a certain try.

The Derry pack now took control of the game with Adam McDuff & Ciaran Allen making strong runs at the heart of the Larne defence supported by the back row. Centre Gary Boyle got in on the act with penetrating runs all of which gained ground and pressurise Larne.

From 2 of these attacks Larne were penalised and out half Parke slotted the resulting kicks, one from inside his own half.

Derry were now in total control and added 2 more unconverted trys through Phil Duffy and William McCleery before great hands by David Graham put winger Conor Cummings in for the final score of the game. Parke again added the extras to take his personal haul for the day to 12 points and Derry were comfortable winners 37-7.

In a good all round performance the Derry pack dominated the set pieces with the back row first at every breakdown. Out half Adam Parke varied the game well and kept Larne on the back foot with long accurate kicking and centre Gary Boyle made good ground and set a target for the pack.

In his last game for Derry before leaving for Canada, ‘Man of the Match’ William McCleery had a superb game making numerous strong penetrating runs, putting in try saving tackles and rounding of a brilliant performance with a well deserved try. William’s talent, attitude and commitment will be badly missed and everyone at the club wishes him every success for the future.