Fergie inspires Judges Road side to big victory

CITY of Derry laid down a marker following their impressive 30-14 win over Naas, on Saturday.
City of Derry flanker Richard Baird escapes this tackle from Nass player Peter Osborne on his way to scoring their second from of the match on Saturday. INLS4413-172KMCity of Derry flanker Richard Baird escapes this tackle from Nass player Peter Osborne on his way to scoring their second from of the match on Saturday. INLS4413-172KM
City of Derry flanker Richard Baird escapes this tackle from Nass player Peter Osborne on his way to scoring their second from of the match on Saturday. INLS4413-172KM

The Judges Road men remain unbeaten and have moved joint top of the All Ireland League Division 2A with Ballymena.

The conditions at Judges Road on Saturday were atrocious in the first half with heavy rain and a strong cross field breeze.

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The game was in the balance with Derry lead 15-14 midway through the second half with Naas missing a certain try when an unmarked Jonny Delaney spilled the ball with the try line in his sight.

That mistake was costly as eight minutes and two tries later Derry were out of sight with fifteen unanswered points and a bonus point in the bag.

Nass started the game strongly and were three points up after David Ahearn kicked a penalty from 30 metres after the home team were caught off side. Derry started to get some decent position but missed a reasonable penalty shot on six minutes.

The home side won a penalty on the half way line and kicked for touch to take play 30 metres from the Nass line. David Ferguson found Richard Baird who caught and drove forward powerfully before quick ball inside the 22 had Andy Semple on it he found Richard McCarter who linked with David Houston and he feed captain David Funston for a great team try and McCarter converted for a 7-3 lead for the Judges Road men.

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Naas got some decent possession and were able to reduce the arrears on fourteen minutes when Ahern obliged with another penalty from 20 metres and Derry’s lead was 7-6.

Stephen Ferguson produced a dynamic driving run beating a couple of men and taking four men out of the game to bring him down after seventeen minutes but all his good work came to nothing.

Adam Bratton won a penalty after he was hauled down 25 metres out and Naas came in from the side, McCarter converted the resultant penalty and Derry were 10-6 in front.

Daragh O’Shea produced an exquisite cross field kick on 35 minutes to link with winger Jonny Delaney and find Derry napping as Delaney touched down for a try wide out left to put his team 11-10 in front.

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Derry finished the half strongly and when they were awarded a penalty on 38 minutes McCarter kicked for touch to take play inside the Naas 22. David Houston won the line out and with his forwards producing a great drive and ruck, Andy Semple cleared up quickly and Richard Baird was on hand to touch down for an unconverted try and Derry’s lead at half-time was 15-11.

Naas got themselves into the Derry half and Ahern kicked another penalty on 47 minutes to reduce the deficit to 15-14.

Naas had that chance to change the game after 57 minutes when O’Shea once again had the vision to spot winger Jeff Delaney unmarked and with a 40 metre cross field kick he had a clear run in to score but he spilled the ball as he was about to touch down for a try.

Naas kicked loose ball out of defence to find Simon Logue in the full back position 20 metres inside his own half, in a flash he seemed to be running into traffic but with a faint and two sidesteps Logue was clear and heading inside the Naas 22 only to be hauled down 15 metres out and when Naas went offside McCarter kicked an easy penalty and give Derry a 18-14 lead.

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Man of the Match Stephen Ferguson produced a tremendous run on 65 minutes before feeding Chris Barber who touched down between the post for a try and when McCarter converted Derry were 25-14 in front.

The try of the game came three minutes later when good play by David Houston, McCarter, Logue and Josh Lewis passed to Stephen Corr who made no mistake and although the try wasn’t converted Derry still ran out winners.

City of Derry: McCleery, Logue, Funston, Barber, Lewis, McCarter, Semple, Shields, D Ferguson, Duffy, Houston, Corr, Bratton, Baird, S Ferguson. Replacements; McAuley, McFeely, Cooper, Campbell, Burns.

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