Glorious spring sunshine welcomed the Perennials to the home of My Ronnie Porter’s Donagahadee. As a curtain raise to the main event, Donaghadee entertained Holywood in the mini rugby section, a good ploy, as it ensured a large crowd for the main event.
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Players were in short supply with only 18 turning up, with a key guest and hopefully new recruit being a young Paddy Johns making his debut.
Michael McAlister continued his run of hat-tricks, running in another 3 tries. Questions about his age qualifications are being raised, both in terms of being old enough to qualify for playing and being old enough to buy the mandatory round of drinks for everyone after scoring a hat trick. Too young to buy a drink is not cutting mustard with the troops.
Michael opened the scoring before Wayne Storey made it 2-0 to Perennials. Kevin Simpson also appeared to have his games mixed up, as he took to heading the ball in to touch rather than kick it. A second try for Michael, before the Dee replied with their opening score, left the half time score 3 -1 to the Perennials.
The fitness levels of the Perennials showed through in the third quarter with three more tries from Maurice Field followed by Michael McAllister completing his hat trick, following a wonderful break from Kevin Simpson, with Neil Murphy adding another, to leave the score at the end of the third quarter 6-1 to the Perennials. The Dee finished the scoring when Gordon McBride crossed the line to leave the final score 6-2 to the Perennials.
As is the norm, the drink flowed and flowed. The Armstrong clan from nearby neighbour‘s Bangor entertained the crowd with the backing of the Lagan Band and guest drummer Davy Elliott.
Fine food and Dee chairman, our own Mr Ronnie Porter, declared there would be no speeches, thus leaving more time to finish off the drink.
Many thanks to Ronnie and his team for an excellent day.
