Ladies create history

CITY of Derry Ladies created history on Saturday when they became the first team from the club, since the introduction of the All Ireland League, to be promoted to Division One prior to their All Ireland Division Two Cup final with Old Belvedere.

An early departure for the Athlone final (most girls being up from around 5am) was almost wasted when the referee indicated just ten minutes before kick off that he believed the pitch to be unplayable.

On inspection there were many areas where the ground was extremely hard and uneven.

In a bid to ensure the game and the following Division One final were played, the IRFU tried in vain to find an alternative venue within easy driving distance.

Eventually the local fire authority saved the day by agreeing to water the most badly affected areas. Five tanks later produced a positive pitch inspection and so after much thumb twiddling and a further warm up both sides took to the field almost three hours later.

Derry played with the wind in the first half and, in a tense start, both teams spent the opening 10 minutes probing their opposition.

On 13 minutes after a period of sustained pressure Derry were awarded a penalty 25 metres from the Old Belvedere line. Out half Rachel Lennox stepped up and coolly slotted the kick to give Derry a three points to nil lead. Following this, Derry continued to pressure the Belvo defence but were unable to break through.

Following a driving maul on the Derry 10 metre line the Old Belvedere No 8 broke blind and through the first tackle to have the Derry line at her mercy and only a superb covering tackle by captain Diane Nixon stopped a certain try for the Dublin side.

On 20 minutes an infringement at a ruck by Derry gave Belvo the easiest of penalties in front of the posts to level the scores at 3-3.

The bigger Belvo pack were making winning good ball difficult for Derry which did not allow them to release their backs.

The first half finished all square with the Derry centre partnership of Kelly Holmes and Stacey Lee Jackson having stopped any Belvo attacks and some great driving runs by Diane Nixon and second row Kylie Boyle, who was having her best game in a Derry shirt.

Playing with the wind in the second half Old Belvedere were quickly on the attack with centre Nora Stapleton starting to show why she is a current Irish international.

Following an elusive run by Stapleton who was tackled by Nixon, Belvo won the ensuing ruck and crossed the line for an unconverted score. This was followed by a penalty 13 minutes into the half to provide a lead 11-3. Despite this, Derry still believed and continued to compete on the ground and in the air at the lineout. However, Belvo further stretched their lead with a score right on the wing.

With 10 minutes remaining a poor clearance kick from Derry was fielded by Stapleton who showed her pace to outstrip the defence and score wide out.

From the kick off the Derry girls lifted their game again and when Nixon stole ruck ball the backs moved the ball swiftly to break the Belve defence only for a poor pass leading to a knock on.

Just before full time Old Belvedere moved the ball right and set up quick ball which was switched back to the backs who scored a converted try by the posts to leave the final score 28-3.

The score line flattered Old Belvedere who won deservedly but against a Derry side who had them under pressure for sustained periods. The Derry girls never gave up and can be proud of their performance on a day which provided far from ideal preparation.

In what was a very physical encounter, played on a hard surface, hooker Grainne Crabtree had to leave the field following a head injury and second row Kylie Boyle needed hospital treatment for a cut eye.

The bigger Belvo pack were too strong on the day and Irish International Nora Stapleton played an influential role in the midfield. Derry had some great driving runs by Kylie Boyle and Diane Nixon who also had an excellent game in defence.

Her tackle count on the day was immense including two cover tackles when Belvo had the line at their mercy. The Derry girls now round off their season with the Carrick 10's tournament on Sunday, where they are the current Plate holders.