McCarter inspires Judges Road men to first victory

The score at half time confirmed how poor Derry were in the first half as they were 17-6 down with no structure or rhythm to their game.

Banbridge were able to capitalise on this inept display from the home team as possession was coughed up cheaply and aimless kicking out of defence fed the Banbridge backs with quality possession.

The second half display from Derry bore no reflection to what went before as half time changes by Coaches Mark Nicholl and Neil Beddow worked the oracle as the Judges Road men were the better team by far thought the second period.

Richard McCarter coming in to outhalf from the bench and Andrew Semple moving from No 10 to scrum half were the catalyst for the home teams improved performance. Derry’s play moved up several gears as McCarter brought a structure and rhythm not only to his backline but with his variation of play he brought his forwards into the game as the momentum swung Derry’s way.

Banbridge full back Adam Doherty gracefully collected a loose kick just inside his own half and fed out half Johnny Pollock who made an incisive break before off loading to centre Andy Morrison who was stopped five meters out.

The Banbridge pack were on hand to dive the ball forward and No 8 Collie Bickerstaff touched down for a try near the posts and with Aarron Kennedy converting Banbridge were in 7-3 ahead

Derry clicked into gear and into the Banbridge half from the kick-off and they attacked on the right with prop Chris Shield carrying ball forward.

Scrum half Stuart Simpson found Semple going left and with a three man overlap Derry coughed up a guilt edged chance.

Derry were still on the attack and were rewarded with a penalty for holding on once again and Semple converted on twenty four minute and Derry were just one point down at 7-6

Derry looked nervous in their play as they were trying too hard and struggle to get any flow to their game, four AIL defeats and confidence seemed at a low ebb. Kennedy kicked a penalty for Bann from pressure after 32 minutes.

Derry lost possession in their own half cheaply on thirty seven minutes and the Bann out half Johnny Pollock accepted a gift pass from a Derry player.

He made a good break and passed to centre Johnny Little who touched down for a try and Kennedy converted to bring a poor half of rugby from Derry to a close, the visitors leading 17-6.

Derry made the changes at half time and the second half started with a bang for the.

Semple was delivering quick snappy ball to McCarter who was pulling the stings and making things happen. David Funston made a good break as did Adam Bratton and David Ferguson who was stopped short of the line after four minutes.

Semple moved ball to McCarter who with a cut out pass going left allowed winger William McCleery to beat his man and touch down for an unconverted try out wide and Derry were behind by six points, but a penalty for Bann pushed the lead out to 20-11.

Banbridge lost their No 8 to the sin bin and it was advantage Derry.

Good driving play from Stephen Ferguson, Sam Duffy and Stephen Corr on eleven minutes allowed Richard Baird to make a great break to bring play inside the Bann ‘22’ and when he found McCarter on his left and it took just a dummy pass and a faint as the Man of the Match McCarter touched down for an unconverted try.

Derry continued to make in roads and when Baird went in for a try which Semple converted, the home side had turned things around to lead 23-20.

Banbridge got back into the Derry half on 63 minutes and were immediately awarded a penalty with Kennedy converted to the score at 23-23.

Having missed a penalty opprotunity two minutes later, Derry kept pressing and five minutes from the end Semple kicked a great penalty from 35m, which proved to be the winning score.