City of Derry 17Letterkenny RFC 24
BY MATTHEW WILSON
Letterkenny RFC recorded a fine seven-point away win over City of Derry on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Derry outfit for a second successive week.
The Letterkenny outfit were playing against a stiff breeze in the opening half and managed the elements well to lead by nine points at the break.
A converted try accompanied by a penalty from Peter Scott penalty in Act Two stretched their lead to 19 and despite a late fightback from the hosts, they held on to secure victory.
The visitors began this encounter on the front foot and took the lead after just seven minutes of play.
Team captain Daniel Faulkner offloaded the ball to his centre partner Cody Laverty who fended off the challenge of two City of Derry players and crossed the line, much to the travelling supporters delight.
Letterkenny’s Jack Speer gets his pass away.
Out-half Peter Scott stepped up to the kicking tee and struck over a well-taken conversion from out on the left to leave his side seven points to the good.
The hosts responded well and found a try of their own on the quarter hour mark. A superb pass found David Lapsley who had men outside of him but he went alone and raced through to get his side off the mark.
Alex McDonnell was unable to find the target with his conversion attempt to leave Letterkenny RFC ahead in the contest.
On 26 minutes, the Letterkenny men extended their advantage courtesy of a second try.
After a number of phases close to the try-line, Ben Scott drove through the line of City of Derry players and touched the ball down underneath the posts.
Once again, Peter Scott added the extras from the kicking tee to push their cushion to nine points.
The home side had an opportunity to hit back in the closing stages of the opening stanza but a failed grubber kick from Sam Milligan saw the ball go over the end-line and Letterkenny entered the break nine points to the good.
Much like Act One, Letterkenny RFC made a flying start to the second stanza and extended their lead five minutes after the restart.
Letterkenny’s Jack Sayers lines up the challenge of City of Derry’s Ryan Higgins during Saturday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
After a period of pressure, Adam Marley received the ball and the Letterkenny prop powered his way over the line and touched down for his side’s third try of the afternoon. Peter Scott again converted for the extra two points to move the visitors 16 points clear.
On 55 minutes, Peter Scott continued his fine afternoon from the kicking tee as he struck over a superb penalty from close to the halfway line to add another three points to the scoreboard.
All eyes on Peter Scott’s effort.
With just under 20 minutes of the encounter remaining, referee Matthew Shields issued a yellow card to Ben Scott to leave the visitors with 14 men for 10 minutes.
The hosts used the extra man to their advantage and cut the deficit shortly afterwards in the form of a try, with Josh Cole crossing the line and Alex McDonnell adding the extras.
On 70 minutes, Shields reached for the pocket again as he showed Ralph Mealiff a yellow card for an alleged intentional knock on.
Letterkenny’s David Brown lines up the tackle of City of Derry’s Gary McKinley during Saturday’s game. Photos: Evan Logan
Now with a two-man advantage and the home support behind them, City of Derry began to apply more pressure on the Letterkenny defence and found their third try courtesy of Mark Grant.
Alex McDonnell’s conversion effort came back off the post to leave seven between the side’s, with five minutes left on the clock.
Letterkenny’s Cody Laverty breaks past City of Derry’s Andy Millar during Saturday’s game. Photo Evan Logan
The home outfit continued to look for a crucial try that could earn them something from the contest in the closing stages however, the determined Letterkenny side kept the at bay to seal the win.
Teams
City of Derry: Tom Cameron, Cathal Cregan, Nathan Campbell, Gary McKinley, Tiarnan Dillon, Reuben Loughrey, Mark Scott, Isaiah Morris, Alex McDonnell, Mark Grant, Josh Cole, David Lapsley, Sam Milligan, Chris McCann. Subs: Matthew McMonagle for Morris (12 mins), Gregg Parkhill for Cameron (61 mins).
Letterkenny RFC: David Brown, Ross Harkin, Adam Marley, Jack Sayers, Jack Kennedy, Ben Scott, Mark Miller, Jack Speer, Jamie Millar, Peter Scott, Ralph Mealiff, Cody Laverty, Daniel Faulkner, Darragh McConnell, Jordan Mealiff. Subs: Dafydd Green for Jordan Mealiff (22 mins), Gareth Duncan and Ciaran Clarke for Sayers and Miller (65 mins), Mark Miller for Ben Scott (80 mins).
Referee: Matthew Shields
