Seconds kick start their campaign with a win over City of Derry

No 8 Alan Conn went in for the opening try, with Robin Thompson’s conversion and penalty soon afterwards opening up a ten point gap. Derry came back strongly, eventually getting an unconverted try. Thompson struck a second successful penalty and just before half-time full back Stephen Jackson took advantage of Gareth Houston’s break from the base of a scrum to cross for Bann’s second try, with Thompson’s boot again finding the target.

A strong start to the second half saw Derry pressurise the home line and after the referee had moved a penalty 10 metres closer for back-chat, the visitors crossed for a converted try.

After Jonny McCreery had set up a ruck on the Derry ’22’, Thompson’s dummy was bought by the defence and the out-half strolled in at the posts, adding the simple conversion. Derry counter-attacked from their own ‘22’ to set their left winger off on a run to the line. Stephen Cowan thought his cover tackle had forced the ball-carrier into touch but the touch judge’s flag stayed down, the conversion was on target. Three minutes later Thompson struck again, slotting over a third penalty. Then with three minutes remaining Conn picked up from a scrum on halfway, sold a dummy and raced in at the posts for his second try, which Thompson again converted. And to cap a fine all-round display, the No 8 collected the re-start kick and made good ground before linking with Keir Patterson on halfway. The young centre scorched home for the final score of the game.