Lynch's side beat Roesiders again

CITY of Derry defeated North West rivals Limavady for a second time in just four days.

They scored eight try's in their Kukri Qualifying League victory on Tuesday evening at the Recreation Grounds, Limavady.

Derry scored three try's in the first half and had scored the required fourth try's within fifteen minutes of the second half which guaranteed their bonus point victory.

The result put them ten points ahead of their rivals Armagh, who have two games in hand to determine who represents Ulster in the All Ireland Round Robin Playoff's to regain senior status.

The conditions on Tuesday were ideal for rugby with a dry pitch and a beautiful sunny evening with not a puff of air to mention.

Derry had laid down a marker on Saturday last with a comprehensive 43-3 victory over the same opposition at Judges Road and with a depleted Limavady starting XV it was going to be a long evening at the office.

The visitors started the game on the attack, but in their eagerness to get that first try it led to many unforced errors.

That elusive first try came on fifteen minutes when Man of the Match Rudi Moore produced a try out of nothing when courtesy of a piece of individual flair he picked up the ball 45 meters out and beat three players to score wide out, Mark O'Connor added the conversion.

Derry were struggling to get their game together and with Chris Cooper being sin binned on twenty eight minutes, there was a nervousness prevailing over players and supporters alike.

Limavady got themselves back into the game on thirty minutes with a penalty form Kieran Mullan. Derry suddenly sprung to life and a pass from Richard McCarter to Stephen Corr produced a try in the corner following a strong drive, O'Connor added the extras.

Five minutes later Derry got their third try following a catch and drive from a line out and scrum half Andrew Semple was on hand to score a try in the corner with O'Connor adding the difficult conversion to give his team a 21-3 lead at half time.

The game was over as a contest fifteen minutes into the second half when McCarter found Rudi Moore 40 meter out and with two men to beat, a hand off and a side step produced the fourth try and the bonus point for Derry, O'Connor added the conversion.

Chris Shields got his name on the scoreboard five minutes later when he touched down for a try following a good forward drive with O'Connor again adding the extras.

O'Connor got a try for himself on twenty five minutes after being released by David Funston to score from 30 meter out.

Moore who was coming back from injury having played his last game in the All Ireland Junior Cup Final at the end of January was having a night to remember and he got his hat trick of try's on thirty five minute.

O'Connor scored an exceptional converted try on forty minutes following a skip pass from McCarter which put him in under the posts to give Derry a resounding victory.

City of Derry coach Bevan Lynch said after the game: "We are almost there now with just one more league game to play this Saturday at home to Dromore.

"The last six weeks have been a big ask of everyone associated with the club including players, supporters, management and back room support.

"I am so proud of the players and the way they have responded to everything that has been asked of them. They have had to make many sacrifices and give so much time to training and playing that they have virtually put the lives on hold.

"When you play and win an All Ireland Cup and follow that with nine league matches having to win each one and score at least four try's then that is real pressure with no time for celebration.

"What has stood by us is the strength in dept we have in the squad and if you can't enjoy the ride we are having then there is something wrong. We all can't wait for the next game".

City of Derry: C Shields, J Mitchell, S Duffy, B Prue, Philip Brady, C Cooper, M Walker, S Corr, A Semple, R McCarter, S Logue, J Bennett, D Funston, R Moore, M O'Connor; Replacements: S McAuley, S Simms.