Lynch's side end ona fine winning note

City of Derry...64

Dromore...17

CITY of Derry completed their Kukri Ulster Qualifying League campaign on Saturday at Judges Road when they ran out convincing winners against Dromore.

Derry scored nine trys but trailed 17-15 at half time after loosing young center Jared Bennett early in the first half which upset the balance for a period of time. The versatile wing forward Stephen Simms moved to centre at half time and showed what an invaluable all round footballer he is when he fitted in seamlessly to Derry’s talented backline.

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The home side were quick out of the blocks and were three points up within minutes courtesy of out half Richard McCarter. Dromore full back Sam Russell leveled the scores with a penalty after seven minutes.

City of Derry were impressive early and Jared Bennett made the hard yards on twelve minutes to allow captain Bob McKillop to score under the posts with McCarter converting. Derry lost Bennett with a hamstring injury suffered when creating the opportunity for his captain. McCarter added a penalty shortly afterwards for a 10-3 lead for Derry.

De Wit Becker the Dromore No 8 got a try on thirty minutes which was converted by Russell to leave the scores level at 10-10. De Wit Becker was on the mark again on forty minutes when he got another converted try to give his team a 17-10 lead.

Derry finally got their game going when they eventually built a series of phases of play in injury time that allowed Chris Cooper to touch down for an unconverted try to leave Dromore leading at half time by 17-15.

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Bevan Lynch’s side were now firing on all cylinders as the second half started and the wide channels were used to great effect by McCarter on five minutes after phases were built and full back Peter Henderson scored a converted try wide out.

Three minutes later with Dromore trying to defend out wide McCarter had the vision to chip the defensive line and was foot tripped as he was racing in to touch down for a certain try. The referee awarded a penalty try and yellow carded the Dromore scrum half Tom Finn, with the bonus point secure and Derry having the extra man for ten minutes it was going to be a case of a win but the only uncertainty was by how many.

Karl Gemmell at wing forward was continuing his run of good form and scored a great try from a blind side move orchestrated by the impressive young winger Simon Logue who took three players out of the game with an exquisite sidestep his pass to Gemmell fell short but Gemmell showed his foot baling skills and volleyed the ball forward to beat the Dromore winger to touch down for a score. McCarter added another try on fifteen minutes after good pressure from the Derry pack. Cooper produced a big carry a few minutes later and found Stephen Corr who released McCarter with a deft pass for an easy try.

Derry were rampant and the game was no longer a contest but there were a further two trys in the game before the referee blew the final whistle ten minutes early. Winger Josh Lewis got his name on the score sheet before Andrew Semple added a trademark try with a pickup from the base of the scrum to run in from fifteen metres.

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McCarter converted eight of Derry’s nine trys and with a try and a penalty to his credit also he once again proved what a valuable all round player he is.

City of Derry: Chris Shields, Sam McAuley, Sam Duffy, Philip Brady, Bob McKillop, Karl Gemmell, Stephen Sims, Stephen Corr, Andrew Semple, Richard McCarter, Josh Lewis, Jared Bennett, David Funston, Simon Logue, Peter Henderson. Replacements: Jason Mitchell, Chris Cooper.