Semple shines in massive try feast at Judges Road

Both sides came into the game having won the previous week in the AIL and with an Ulster Senior Cup quarter-final tie coming up this weekend between the sides, there was a fair degree of experimentation with the extended squads being used.

The early exchanges on Saturday were very scrappy with both sides making unforced errors.

City of Derry scored their first try after 12 minutes when an 8/9 blind side move allowed Josh Lewis to sprint 30 metres and find man of the match Andrew Semple in support to stroll over the line for the opening try.

Soon after David Funston made a storming run in midfield, passing to 19-year-old Jack Hargan on the left wing who touched down in the corner.

The third try soon followed as Andrew Semple touched down following a break from the outstanding Richie Baird.

The bonus point try was scored in a very one sided contest after 22 minutes as Andrew Semple completed a hat trick following excellent interplay from the Derry backs and poor Dungannon defence.

A mid-field break on 33 minutes led to another Derry try from Simon Logue after excellent support running from Adam Bratton. A sixth first half try from Josh Lewis followed great work from Simon Logue and Stephen Corr.

The seventh try came on the stroke of half-time as a now rampant Stephen Corr found Richie Baird in support to run in under the posts.

Neil Burns converted five of the first half tries to make the half-time score 45-0 to a dominant Derry fifteen.

Derry scored their eighth try on 52 minutes courtesy of strong running from Chris Shields and Paul McFeely allowing Richie Baird to touch down for his second try.

Burns then showed great vision as he produced an exquisite chip through the Dungannon defence which he gathered himself as the ball was spread wide to Josh Lewis, who was having his best game of the season and he scored under the posts.

Second row Chris Cooper secured Derry’s Tenth try as he was on hand to finish off a Josh Lewis pass after excellent work from Jonny Lyons at flanker.

Cooper was involved again in Derry’s eleventh try as he hacked through from a Dungannon error to allow Josh Lewis to pick up one handed to score his hat-trick try.

The final action of a very satisfying afternoon for a Derry side and their supporters saw Andrew Semple complete the rout; Semple played the second half at full-back as coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair took the opportunity to experiment with players in different positions.

Semple ran through a gap in the Dungannon defence after throwing a dummy which fooled the players in front of him.

Burns at out half converted 8 from the 12 tries as Derry totally dominated proceedings leaving the final score 76-0.

Coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair will be particularly pleased with the manner of victory as many of the chances which were created were taken.

The support play was excellent with forwards David Houston and Stephen Corr showing great form and Richard Baird giving his best performance of the season.

The young players coming into the team are fitting in seamlessly with Neil Burns, Jack Hargan and Jonny Lyons all growing in confidence.

City of Derry: Simon Logue, Josh Lewis, David Funston, Adam Bratton, Jack Hargan, Neil Burns, Andrew Semple, Chris Shields, Cathal Cregan, Paul McFeely, David Houston, Stephen Corr, Richard Baird, Jonny Lyons, Stephen Ferguson. Replacements: Jason Mitchell, Stephen Jefferson, Chris Cooper, Adam Parke, Jack Caithness.