Seconds keep title hopes alive

THREE tries in a 10 minute period of the second half saw City of Derry II claim the points against a gritty Armagh II team and keep their chance of reclaiming the league title alive.

The home side got off to the perfect start when from the kick off the ball was moved quickly left for big centre Adam Bratton to surge through a gap and put his fellow Under 19 player Nick Donnell in from 40 metres, definitely two players to watch for the future.

The Judges Road men kept the pace up and full-back Richard Peoples scored the first of his four tries after good work by the pack. outhalf Mark O'Connor added the conversion and produced a masterclass in kicking in converting all Derry's eight tries.

However Armagh were not going to lie down and after a loose kick out of defence from Derry the visitors scored wide out with outhalf Simon Cuttle forcing his way over. Armagh added their second on 30 minutes when from a lineout close in the pack rumbled over for prop Phil Fletcher to get the final touch down and leave the interval score 14-10.

Derry, now playing with the breeze, started strongly and after a break by centre Boyle, right winger Ruidi Moore scorched in from 30 metres. Ten minutes later centre Adam Bratton got on the scoreboard after good work by O'Connor and Duffy.

Derry now were completely dominant and even with winger Donnell coming off injured and the side reduced to fourteen, fullback Richard Peoples scored three quick tries within a ten minute purple patch for the home side.

Hooker Stephen Duffy added Derry's eight on 70 minutes with the visitors scoring a consolation try on 75 minutes.