Battling Derry win again

Mark Nicholl’s side had Peter Henderson to thank for the victory as his late penalty secured the victory.

Both teams scored three tries but the Judges Road men finished the stronger and added a late penalty from full back Henderson to keep their unbeaten start to the league campaign intact.

Following two comprehensive victories in their first two league fixtures against Ards and Rainey, Derry now find themselves four points clear at the top of the Ulster League Table.

This was Derry’s first test against All Ireland League Division 1 opposition this season and they were not fazed as they continued their quick attacking rugby that had rhythm and flow with style and panache.

Malone had beaten Derry at Judges Road in their second last AIL Division 2A game of the 2011/12 season, on their way to winning the league and promotion.

This game was going to be the benchmark as to where the Judges Road men were in their preparation for the coming AIL campaign.

The game started in Indian summer conditions with the temperature well up the 20’s and it was all Derry from the start.

The vistiors attacked towards the city end and following two strong forward drives on the left, they spread quick ball to the right wing and a try looked a certainty but William McCleery was pulled down just short and the danger was cleared.

Derry were back on the attack on four minutes when prop Paul McFeely produced a great drive smashing through three defenders in the process. McFeely found Richard Baird five meters out and the pack drove him over the line but unfortunately the ball was not grounded and from the attacking scrum Malone managed to clear and again survive.

Malone got themselves into the game with some decent possession and were well on top at the mid point of the first half.

They were undone on 22 minutes as they attacked along the line inside the Derry half. Strong tackling from centres David Funston and Ryan Campbell created turnover ball and Simon Logue the deadly poacher picked up and sprinted 60 meters to nonchalantly touch down between the posts. Richard Peoples converted and it was 7-0 to the Judges Road men.

The first half finished in a whirl wind of attacking play, firstly Derry lost possession cheaply in the Malone half on 37 minutes and in a flowing attacking move involving several players prop David Haliday touch down for a try and with Josh Pentland converting it was 7-7.

Derry won a penalty from the kick off and Parke kicked into the 22 for an attacking line out as half time approached. Brian Prue won clean ball and scrum half Jack Caithness found Parke who offloaded to David Funston to get in for a captains try and with Peter Henderson converting Derry lead 14-7 at the break.

The early second half pressure saw Malone well on top and that pressure finally told when they worked an overlap and full back Taylor Acheson got in for an unconverted try and Derry’s lead was 14-12.

Derry stole possession from the kick off and Jack Caithness produced a magical run that almost saw a try, Derry got quick ball from the breakdown and Richard Peoples found David Funston to beat two men to touch down for an unconverted try that sealed a man of the match performance and Derry again lead seven points.

The Gibson Park men’s winger David Irvine got in for a try on 68 minutes following good play from half backs Shane Kelly and Shandon Scott and with Pentland converting it was anybody’s game at 19pts all.

Tom Patton who had a great game all afternoon and Richard Baird became more prominent as Derry attacked and just after the hour mark it looked like they were rewarded but unfortunately Richard People missed with a penalty shot.

Derry came right back from the drop out and great forward driving play from McFeely, Beattie, Shields and Cooper took play back inside the Malone 22.

The constant pressure of attacks from Derry saw Malone holding on the ground and Peter Henderson converted the resultant penalty in the closing stages.

Mark Nicholl’s side have a home fixture against Instonians at Judges Road, this Saturday.

City of Derry: Chris Shields, Cathal Creggan, Paul McFeely, Brian Prue, Chris Cooper, Ross Scott, Tom Patton, Richard Baird, Jack Caithness, Richard Peoples, Simon Logue, Ryan Campbell, David Funston, William McCleery, Peter Henderson. Replacements; Steven Jefferson, Steven Duffy, Gareth Beattie, Adam Parke, Chris Barber.