Thirds continue winning streak

SATURDAY was a great all-round day for City of Derry Rugby club with all four senior teams winning.

With over 20 players unavailable through injury or work commitments it was testament to the strength in depth at the club that over 65 players still turned out to represent the four teams.

Nowhere was this more apparent than at Judges Road where the Mighty Thirds swept aside the challenge of Ballymena with five members of the current under-19 side stepping up to represent the club at senior level.

Ryan Spratt, Aaron Buchannan, Cillian Doherty, Ben Porter and Richard Keys all had a baptism of fire against a tough and vastly experienced forward pack who dominated the majority of the set pieces.

But it was around the park in open play where Derry dominated and the youthful exuberance on display was rewarded with Spratt, Buchannan and Keys all scoring tries for the home team.

Eoin Halliday and Adam Kyle again pulled the strings at half back and Halliday picked up two tries of his own. Richard Gillen, again deputising as captain, lead from the front and was joined by Gary Boyle and John Donnelly in having impressive games in attack and defence.

Kevin McLaughlin answering a last minute call to the team also crossed for a try, and the try of the day came from Mal Kelly, who finished off a fine counter-attacking move involving Harkin, Kyle and Keys to sum up all that is good about Derry rugby at the minute.

Next week the Thirds have a tough away fixture against Queens who lie just below them in the league table.