Students taught a lesson

The game produced some scintillating rugby at times from both sides that was a real advert for attacking rugby played in the best spirit of the game with mutual respect for each others play.

This victory keeps Derry top of the Ulster League and in good physical and mental shape as they start their All Ireland League campaign with a home fixture on Saturday next against University College Cork.

The conditions on Saturday were perfect on a beautiful sunny September afternoon and Derry showed their intent from the start.

It was attack from the off and full back Peter Henderson continued his fine vein of form as if he was the only player on the pitch.

There was two minutes gone and Queens spilled ball inside the Derry half, Henderson picked up and an ordinary player would have just secured possession. Henderson in a flash had scanned Queens defensive setup and one quick sidestep released David Funston to draw the last man and leave Josh Lewis with a run in try. Henderson converted for a 7-0 home advantage.

Henderson was almost on the mark on five minutes when he chipped the last player but was just beaten for the touchdown from 40 metres out.

Adam Parke started at out half and was pulling the strings nicely, he found Henderson out wide on fifteen minutes some 40 metres out and the star man fended off a couple of tacklers and was not to be denied as he scored an unconverted try in the corner and Derry’s lead was 12-0.

Derry lost three backs to injury in quick succession which disrupted the team’s momentum. Simon Logue injured a hip, Henderson a finger injury and their captain David Funston came off after a midfield collision before the first quarter was over.

Richard McCarter made a welcome return to out half with Adam Parke slipping into centre alongside Ryan Campbell who had a fine game. Jack Caithness moved to full back with Adam Bratton moving from flanker to wing. David Houston moved to the back row and with James Fawcett coming on it was an all Strabane second row.

Queens had a good second quarter and their powerful centre Stuart McIlwaine handed off two Derry backs to touchdown for an excellent try and Ritchie McMaster who was kicking well all day converted and Derry’s lead was down to 12-7 with just over 20 minutes gone.

The game was lively all through as it ebbed and flowed fro half to half and with Queens having the better of it McMaster kicked a fine long range penalty from over 40 metres to reduce the arrears to 12-10 and it was anyone’s game.

Derry finished the first half the stronger with Richard McCarter getting into his rhythm at out half, he found Chris Shields with a disguised pass on thirty seven minutes and a try looked a certainty but he was just held up. Derry got the 5 metre scrum and No 8 Stephen Corr touched down for a pushover try and McCarter converted for a 19-10 lead at the break.

The second half started as the first half did with Derry dominating possession, Tom Patton who was terrific all through was also stopped just short of the line on twelve minutes and from the resulting scrum Stephen Corr picked up to show and cut back inside to score a great No 8 try under the posts and McCarter converted for a 26-10 lead.

McMaster reduced the deficit with another long range penalty on fifteen minutes to 26-13.

Adam Bratton had another terrific game for Derry at both flanker and on the wing and he cemented a Man of the Match performance around the twenty fifth minute of the second half. Firstly Queens were turned over in the Derry half following superb work from Beattie, Houston and Patton, Bratton picked up the loose ball and produced a powerful 60 metre run fending off a couple of players to score a unconverted try and a 31-13 lead.

Bratton almost replicated the same kind of score from the kick off as he fielded the ball and powered 50 metres into the Queens 22 before he was brought down.

Derry were playing well throughout the second half with Ryan Campbell always prominent in defence and attack and Andrew Semple at scrum half having his best game of the season, he varied his play and kept the opposition always guessing. Semple released Richard McCarter on thirty two minutes to make the decisive break over 30 metres out and when he found Josh Lewis, he produced power and pace to score a try out wide and McCarter converted for a 38-13 lead with just over five minutes remaining.

Queens came back into the game with two tries in the last five minute as the home team switched off.

City of Derry: Chris Shields, Sam McAuley, Gareth Beattie, Brian Prue, David Houston, Adam Bratton, Tom Patton, Stephen Corr, Andrew Semple, Richard Peoples, Simon Logue, Ryan Campbell, David Funston, Josh Lewis, Peter Henderson. Replacements; Cathal Cregggan, Steven Jefferson, James Fawcett, Jack Caithness, Richard McCarter.