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04/11/2006- Bangor 12 - Donaghadee 10

Last week’s Qualifying League 1 game at Upritchard Park, Bangor may have been a bottom-of-the-table encounter for some, but for the many hundreds round the playing arena it was a big deal indeed. All appeared to realise the significance of the day with it being the first league encounter in over forty years. To put this in perspective the last time the two teams met in an Ulster Branch competition was before Nelson Mandela was sent to jail. The Bangor club went to great pains to make the occasion truly memorable, and the hospitality given to their guests from down the road was lavish, generous and most welcome.

When the game itself began the first thrusts were somewhat nervous, hardly surprising given the huge build-up the game had aroused over the previous weeks, and the early honours were pretty even. Donaghadee’s first coherent offensive strike took the ball sixty metres towards the Bangor line with a fluid move across the threequarter line where Stephen Seymour featured strongly. The move ended when Bangor gratefully managed to squeeze Gordy McBride into touch on Donaghadee’s left on the 22-metre line.

From a well-won ball at the line-out Paul Blewitt had a cut at the home line, but ran into heavy traffic. The ball was cleverly recycled and Donaghadee’s momentum continued. A loose mid-field pass momentarily threatened to deny Donaghadee the reward their skills had earned, but supporting full-back Billy Allen snatched the bobbling ball in full stride and outdistanced the cover defence for a stirring opening try. The conversion attempt was a good effort but the Dee supporters behind the kicker were disappointed to see it slide past the outside edge of the posts.

For the next ten minutes the game pulsated without energy, but without any real threat to either goal-line. When Bangor once again came within kicking range and were awarded a penalty kick it looked like the Donaghadee 5-point margin was in jeopardy. But the kick went wide and Donaghadee breathed again. The teams returned to full-on confrontation mostly in midfield with Seymour and Simon Crowe looking majestic. The Donaghadee line-out had started the game with a bit of unsteadiness, but by now was looking in cold command with fine jumping by Cois Beukes, Richard Martindale and Andrew Dunn and some strong support work by Woody Fraser and Andy Drummond. By now a series of injuries that required attention was interrupting the flow of the game, but it was beginning to look like Donaghadee would go into the break with their lead intact.

After some concerted pressure by Donaghadee, Bangor were fortunate to receive a relieving penalty. From the next phase Bangor somehow conjured up a mid-field break that led to a fifty-metre surge downfield. At the end of this run a long kick soared right over the Dee defence forcing them to turn and scramble. Allen had one of those full-back nightmares where the ball bounced this way and that off its points and he was forced to gather, spin and kick for touch in one movement. This can be spectacular, but when the ball finds a rampaging winger it is ominous. This man charged furiously, but was temporarily held up, but some good work by the Bangor forwards released the ball quickly enough to allow a powerful second surge by Bangor that culminated in a try close to the goalposts well taken by Mark Wade. The successful kick meant that Bangor who had been under the cosh for much of the first half turned round with their noses 7-5 in front.
Donaghadee began the second period well with Michael Moore being forced into touch five metres out from the Bangor line. This may have jolted the Bangor backs a little because they now produced their best work of the game. With some strong running and good penetration they took the ball most of the length of the field. As Bangor tried to get the ball re-cycled quickly Donaghadee infringed and the referee called a penalty. Bangor chose to ignore the three easy points and ran the ball quickly enough for Dave Lynn to force his way over about half-way out. On a gorgeous day that seemed perfect for goal-kicking this produced yet another miss from an easy position and so the score was now 12-5.

Donaghadee always looked like they had at least one more good score in them, and they strove hard for it. Paul Blewitt’s high restart kick produced a thunderous clash of bodies on the Bangor 10-metre line. When the players resumed their feet it was clear that one of the Donaghadee men, Paul Proctor, was not getting up. Although a stretcher was produced it was something of a relief to the crowd of spectators when they saw Paul just able to be walked off the playing surface. After a short spell on the touchline he was helped to the waiting ambulance and taken to hospital. The good news for all those who were worried it appears that although he was the unlucky one in a horrendous collision he is recovering well, although he might have to wait a day or two before he can think of playing rugby football.

Once Donaghadee had recovered the composure that sometimes suffers when a team-mate is injured they produced some excellent running rugby. One smooth move found Allen in close support. He drew two men and released McBride on the left wing with about twenty metres to go. The Bangor defence was equal to the threat and in a melee of bodies Gordy was crunched into touch in the corner with the ball flying loose, and the ref adjudging that he had taken out the corner flagstick as he went in.

The mauls, and especially the rucks had been a bit messy all day, and the referee had issued a few warnings about such activity. Therefore it was no great surprise when he spotted Drummond too long on the deck and still striving for the ball, and summarily dismissed him from the fray for ten minutes. Now down a man, Donaghadee threw themselves into gaining an equalizing try. Blewitt put a huge diagonal kick into the Bangor left corner and Donaghadee rushed to the line with a vigour that belied the hard work they had all done.

A good steal of the ball and two or three hard goes at the Bangor line appeared to panic the home defence a little, and a short outside run by Blewitt and a sweet inside pass to Beukes gave him a glimpse of his opponents’ line. Cois needs nothing more than this and, gathering himself as he hit the accelerator he flung himself over the Bangor line for a seemingly crucial try. Those readers following all this will know that the scoreline was now a nervous 12-10 with the kick to come.

The beauty and the tragedy of sport is that there is no script; bad things happen. The kick was missed; the Bangor supporters could not hide their relief, and the Donaghadee contingent their dismay. The game did continue for a few short minutes, but effectively it was over as a contest, and Bangor had won.
Although such a defeat is never welcome, Donaghadee can take some comfort from their defeat. They played as well as they have done in weeks, and showed that they are still a very competitive side. The return game at Donaldson Park will be a cracker, and Donaghadee should be confident about winning it at their home.

The Donaghadee players last Saturday were:
Billy Allen (c), Michael Moore, Simon Crowe, Steven Seymour, Gordy McBride, Paul Blewitt, Johnny Phillips, Andrew Drummond, Dee Herron, Haywood Fraser, Andrew Dunn, Cois Beukes, Norman Bell, Richard Martindale and Paul Proctor; subs: Neil McCullagh and Andy Weir.

DONAGHADEE THIRDS FALL TO BALLYNAHINCH

On what was a very disappointing day for Donaghadee rugby, the Thirds fared no better than anyone else and lost narrowly at home to Ballynahinch.

The Hinch definitely had the better of the opening exchanges but it was Donaghadee who found themselves in the lead after 10 minutes with a score from Peter Jeffreys. From a scrappy scrum, the alert open side flanker swooped on a loose ball and sprinted 20 yards home before the Hinch could scramble any defence together.

Ballynahinch definitely had the better of the remainder of the first half, their three quarter line showing good pace and wreaking havoc in open play. They were well worthy of a half time lead of 12- 5

Donaghadee started the second half poorly, kicking the ball to Ballynahinch and allowing them to come at them repeatedly and with impunity. However, the last line of defence remained committed and winger Paul Garnham can be credited with more than one try-saving tackle.

Undoubtedly, a critical point came mid way through the second half when centre Gavin Best was sin binned for nothing more dramatic than hands in the ruck. His frustration clear, the following 10 minutes saw Ballynahinch score twice in his absence, leaving the score at what seemed an insurmountable 24 - 5.

The final 20 minutes of the game at last saw some positive rugby from the home team, who ran and moved everything in an effort to claw back some points. Warren Smith and Vic Vine-Thorpe in the back row played with aggression in securing the ball in every stage of the loose play and Rodgers dived over to reduce the deficit to 12 points. Best added a further try in the final minutes of the game after good attacking play by Chris Russell and Austin Long on the right wing, leaving the Dee within one score of their opponents. A final try did not come and Ballynahinch secured the points. But at least an element of pride was restored by a gutsy second half performance.

CLUB QUIZ

The social side at Donaghadee has always been good and this Friday (10th November) Victor Vine-Thorpe has organised a pub quiz in the Newtownards Road Clubhouse. This event is bound to create some good fun and a lot of laughs, but more importantly generate some monies for the club. This will hopefully be happening on a regular basis after this, so if you fancy putting a team of four in for the first effort, it will cost only a fiver. Come on down, you know you want to!

NEXT WEEK’S RUGBY ACTION

Next week is again Qualifying League action for the Firsts, this time against the visiting Limavady. This should be a cracking encounter at the Newtownards Road grounds. The Thirds have no game, but the Fourths host CIYMS in the Minor League, and the Seconds are away to Banbridge. As usual all games kick off at 2.30pm.