Seconds start Crawford Cup defence well

Academy II...7

CITY of Derry got their defence of the Crawford Cup off to the ideal start with a convincing win over their Junior III opponents at Judges Road.

In another ten try performance Academy had no answer to Derry's power and pace.

With five minutes on the clock, left winger Craig Inglis opened the scoring after good work by the pack. Impressive outhalf Richard Allen was next to score on 16 minutes when after a break by big second row Adam McDuff the ball was moved quickly right for Allen to break three tackles and score.

Skipper Brian Prue, deputising for regular captain Mike Ryan who was sidelined with flu, touched down wide out eight minutes later after a searing break by young U19 player Adam Bratton.

Derry kept the pressure on the visitors and it was Bratton who scored two minutes later after full-back Richard Peoples fielded a poor clearance and fed centre Gary Boyle who made ground before putting Bratton away to score under the posts. By now Derry were totally dominant and with Prue and Rankin lording the lineouts Derry were winning plenty of ball. Allen added his second on 35 minutes after the pack had done the damage and it was the pack who had the final say on the half time whistle when from a lineout five metres out they drove over with Jamie Rankin claiming the score.

Derry kept the scoreboard ticking over with their sixth try eight minutes into the second half. After a powerful break by centre Gary Boyle the pack went through the phases and it was left to second row Adam McDuff to crash over.

Man of the match Gary Boyle scored seven minutes later after the ball was moved crisply right from a quick lineout. Young hooker Mark Hamill scored on 62 minutes after the pack rumbled over from a lineout.

The visitors did manage a consolation try ten minutes later but Derry rounded off the scoring when Bratton added his second on the final whistle to send Derry comprehensively through to the next round.