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League Match: Bangor III's 11 - 9 Donaghadee III's (09/09/99)

"SO NEAR!

Last Thursday evening under the floodlights at Uprichard Park, Donaghadee Thirds went down fighting to a very experienced Bangor III team. The younger Donaghadee men looked like they wanted it more than their opponents, but they were stunned by the first score from the men in yellow. A line-out following a penalty was forced over the Dee line to get Bangor off to a good start.

Richard Reid then put Donaghadee in charge by kicknig two penalty goals, but Bangor converted one themselves to go into the interval 8-6 ahead. After some long probing kicks from returned traveller Andy Monson, Donaghadee were awarded another penalty, which Reid dutifully kicked to put Donaghadee back in the lead.

At this point in the game Donaghadee had the game at their mercy. Some of the forwards, with Davy Henderson and Ian Walsh outstanding, were driving Bangor backwards. The whole team then got involved in a length-of-the-field move which only failed to achieve a score from lack of total commitment. But scoring moves must score. Donaghadee did not. Bangor came back into the game, and when they got the chance of a penalty goal they did not need any help. The final score, probably deservedly was 11-9 to Bangor. But Donaghadee felt that they had done very well to hold a team with so many well-known names in it, and come close to giving them a surprise defeat. They are already saying that the unfortunate side of doing so well is that when they do beat Bangor in the return fixture it can never be a surprise."

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League Match: Antrim II's 18 - 15 Donaghadee III's (18/09/99)

"CLOSE ENCOUNTER AT ANTRIM

The Third Fifteen travelled to Antrim last Saturday to take on their Seconds. This turned out to be yet another close encounter.

With a number of changes from the selected team, there were those who thought Donaghadee would be in trouble, but just as against Bangor last week their worst fears proved to be groundless.

Antrim did get on the scoresheet first. In fact they went 8-0 up very quickly. But the men from the Dee were not flustered. Particularly in the forwards they knuckled down to their task and soon asserted their dominance. Andrew Drummond, Steven Shields and Noel Milliken deserve special mention for their efforts, but all eight worked heroically. As they expected they soon won good ball when the Antrim defence was stretched and, after some slick work by the backs, Lawrence Kelly scored a fine try.

It looked as though Donaghadee were right back in it. But just on half-time Antrim managed another score to turn the teams round with Donaghadee trailing by 13 points to 5.

Scrum half Andy Monson then took the starring role when within the space of a few minutes he scored two excellent tries after good runs.

Unfortunately for the second time in two weeks, with a combination of indiscipline and a lack of match fitness, Donaghadee threw it all away with a few minutes to go. Antrim scored their third try of the day, and ran out narrow winners 18-15.

So, once again defeat for the Thirds. But for most of the game the Dee players showed great heart. The important lesson the team must learn is that when they gain the lead they nust keep it. "

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League Match: Donaghadee III's 14 - 31 Ballynahinch IV's (02/10/99)

"BALLYNAHINCH SUCCESSFULLY RAID DONAGHADEE

The Thirds played host to Ballynahinch Fourths last Saturday and were beaten by 31 points to 14. Once again the Donaghadee side was much changed from that selected on Monday. But all who did play showed plenty of heart for the last 70 minutes of the match. Unfortunately Ballynahinch had scored 14 points without reply in the first ten.

Donaghadee's slightly makeshift pack was under pressure scrummage-wise all day, but the team's line out play has really improved, with the excellent Paul McGimpsey, jumping at number two, taking every ball thrown at or even near him, and giving the backs some very welcome good clean ball.

Kurt Courtney at scrum half was in fine form, and Gavin Best at outside half controlled the line superbly. After three consecutive penalties by Rab Martin, Donaghadee pulled back some of the lead by the break.

Both sides played determined rugby in the second half, with Ballynahinch unfortunately scoring twice to take the score to 24-9.

The Thirds now dug deep with some excellent play from the whole team especially the back row trio of Davy Henderson, Paul McGimpsey and the out-of-retirement-for-one-match Ian Donnan, who, along with brother Carl in the centre, had been talked into playing on the Friday night at a wedding party.

Ballynahinch at the very end took proper advantage of the now-exhausted Donaghadee defence to score a last try to complete the match at 31-14. They deserved their win and played the game in a good spirit, but Donaghadee will be looking for revenge when they visit Ballymacarn later on.

Donaghadee did a great job getting a competitive fifteen on the park in difficuly circumstances. Girvan Boyle even dropped off his wife and brand-new baby home from hospital on his way to the match. What a good clubman, and what an understanding woman!"

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League Match: Malone V's 8 - 5 Donaghadee III's (09/11/99)

"DONAGHADEE THIRDS SQUEEZED OUT

With the First Fifteen having no match and the Seconds' opposition not able to travel from Derry, it was left to the Thirds and the Fourths to carry the flag for Donaghadee last Saturday.

The Thirds travelled to Malone to take on their strong Fifth team. This turned out to be a rather drab affair. The match was hard fought, and there were a few injuries to members of both sides, none major thankfully. The worst was a clash of heads in the second half which resulted in Scott English having to leave the field. Scott has only just returned to Donaghadee from Australia. It was a rough welcome.

The first half had ended nil-each. The second half started with Malone fired up and the Dee asleep. After ten minutes Malone had scored a penalty, and with some intense maulinga try for them soon followed.

Eventually Donaghadee played some good rugby. Kurt Courtney at full back and Hans Arthur at outside-half were excellent. Between them and the rest of the backs they scored a try with ten minutes left to play, Hans being the one crossing the Malone line. Unfortunately these were the last points scored, and the match ended in defeat for the Thirds by 8 points to 5."

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League Match: Dungannon IV's 17 -13 Donaghadee III's (16/10/99)

"THIRDS LOSE NARROWLY - AGAIN

Donaghadee Thirds are a good side. No one gives them a good beating. But they seem to lose many of their matches by a few points when they perhaps ought to have won them. At Dungannon last week this happened again. There were many changes once again, some of them very inconsiderately late on in the week. This cannot help the team to have any coherent plan or rhythm.

Excuses aside, the Thirds, unlike in previous weeks, possibly did not deserve to win. Apart from a few shining lights in the team, they looked at times uninterested.

Donaghadee did score first with Jim Lyttle at prop forward scoring a fine try. Dungannon soon replied with a little interest, converting a try to take the score to 7-5 to them. Donaghadee, through that man Lyttle again, got another score just before half-time, only to see the home team repeat their earlier feat with another converted try, turning the teams round with Dungannon 14-10 in front.

The second half was a dour hard-fought affair only highlighted by a penalty goal either way. The game finished an unsatisfactory 17-13."

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League Match: Donaghadee III's 29 - 10 Armagh III's (30/10/99)

"THIRDS WIN

For the first time this season the Thirds won. After a series of narrow, and sometimes undeserved defeats, the Thirds went out last Saturday against Armagh Thirds and thoroughly deserved to win. They were in control for almost the whole game, with some great work from both backs and forwards.

Paul McGimpsey took some excellent line-out ball all day to supply Billy Allen at scrum-half and Brian Pyper at outside-half with the quick possession they wanted. By half-time Donaghadee were 16-0 up after some very fast open play highlighted by a great Ian Rodgers try for which Neil Kerr added the extra two points and then kicked three penalties.

The second half was a little more tense as Donaghadee went off the boil and Armagh came more into the game. Somewhat against this run of play, Donaghadee's pack took the ball to the Armagh line, where, awarded a scrum, they pushed their opponents over their line for Billy Allen to dive in for a try. This was followed by two more successful penalties to put the result beyond doubt. Armagh were not finished yet, however. They rallied well, and managed a converted try and a penalty goal to make the score a more acceptable 29-10 to Donaghadee.

All of the Thirds were delighted that their fortunes seemed to have turned round, and are determined that things will be much better in future."

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Mid-Season Friendly Match: Shorts II's 18 - 15 Donaghadee III's (20/11/99)

"THIRDS GO DOWN TO NARROW DEFEAT

Donaghadee Thirds played Shorts in a friendly last Saturday and were narrowly defeated 18-15. Donaghadee did go in fron early on, first with a penalty and then a breakaway try scored by Norman Bell. Shorts then did the same to see the scores level at half-time.

After the break Shorts strengthened their side with five substitutions. This immediately made a big difference. In the first twenty minutes of the half they scored two unconverted tries to take the score to 18-8.

The last twenty minutes were all Donaghadee's. Excellent play from Andrew Dunn, Norman Bell, Alex Pickett and Andrew Drummond to name but a few eventually led to Bell scoring his second try near the end. The successful kick left the final score 18-15 to Shorts."

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League Match: Donaghadee III's 10 - 24 Rainey III's (28/11/99)

"Rainey kicked off with a strong wind in their favour last Saturday at the Newtownards Road ground. It soon became apparent that Donaghadee would be forced to rely on hard work to gain any decent ground against the breeze. The Rainey outside half on the other hand knew to take advantage of the wind while it favoured his penetrating kicks. From one long diagonal a line-out resulted in the visitors gaining quick possession and running it very well across the front of the Dee posts. The defence was too eager and the resultant penalty allowed Rainey to take an early lead.

Donaghadee immediately came back into the game, first with a bullocking run from Andrew Dunn, quickly followed by a good half-break from Hans Arthur up the middle. This gave some heart to the large crowd of supporters who had been thinking that if these guys from Magherafelt were the third best set of backs in their club then Donaghadee's Firsts would have to work very hard at Rainey on the 11th of December.

Perhaps now over-confident, the Rainey backs tried to open out the game from their own line, but the attack was snuffed out by a great tackle from Arthur, and a good penalty kick put the Dee right into the Rainey corner. Unfortunately not over the line though. Rainey escaped.

After their let-off one would have thought they would have exercised a little more caution, but these Rainey backs came straight back and showed just how much confidence they have in their ability to run the ball. Unfortunately they had more confidence than skill this time and that man Arthur pounced on a half chance and intercepted an over-elaborate pass. To his dismay he looked up and saw that he had seventy metres to run to the goal line with the baying defenders at his heels. But he put on the booster and beat them comfortably to the line. Cleverly using the upright, Rab Martin made the score 7-3 to Donaghadee, and after some good work from the forwards, with Barry Kelly outstanding, another successful kick took it to 10-3.

Around this point the writing began to appear on the wall for Donaghadee. Any who had thought the Rainey backs were wee falory men had their opinions changed. They ran the ball from half-way with everything a coach looks for. They showed good hands, straight running lines, awareness of the defence, width and pace. This was all too much for the Thirds defence and the left winger crashed over in the corner. The Dee men could not be blamed for this score. Such was the quality of the attack that many considered it to be one of the best tries scored at Donaghadee this season, at any level.

Restarting the game on level terms 10-10 with the elements now in their favour, Donaghadee immediately looked to have their smart heads on. Girvan took a ball in his own half and hoisted it high for the wind to take it to his opponents' line. From a good move off the line-out Hansy annoyed himself, but amused the spectators when, in heavy traffic, he kneed the ball over the dead ball line with some power. Not to worry, though. Donaghadee still had the advantage of the wind, and the stronger pack.

Well, yes they did. But for the remainder of the half the only kicks meant to use the wind came from Bill Allen at the back of the scrum. Opportunities for gaining good field position were squandered by some very poor kicking in mid field. More ominously, every time the quick Rainey backs stretched their attack across the field they were leaving too many Donaghadee forwards walking after them. The superb efforts of the first half must have taken their toll because by now a good number of the Dee eight were very tired looking, and the up-to-now inferior Rainey pack came into the game more and more.

Every time Rainey won the ball their classy out half, Dermot O'Neill, either kicked beautifully or released his threequarters with perfect passes. Inevitably they scored another try. Yet again it was an excellent piece of rugby, and once again was crowned with a superb touchline conversion from O'Neill, taking the score to 17-10. This should have been the end, but unfortunately a Rainey penalty attempt at goal was held up in the wind, the ball was dropped right under the Donaghadee posts and the defence could do little but watch the chasing forwards gratefully accept the gift and crash over for an unexpected try.

Donaghadee probably deserved to lose this encounter, but were a bit unlucky to be defeated by as much as 24-10. Their backs were not as good as Rainey's, but except for the last part of the game when they ran out of piff, the Donaghadee forwards could match their opponents. Both teams certainly entertained the crowd in a game which produced three fine tries and some very exciting play."

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League Match: Donaghadee III's 29 - 7 Dungannon IV's (12/02/00)

"GOOD WIN FOR THE THIRDS

The Donaghadee Third Fifteen played a Dungannon side last Saturday at the Newtownards Road ground, and had what many in the enthusiastic crowd said was their best game all season. Before the game had even commenced Dungannon looked as though they were more eager for the fray than Donaghadee. While they were out warming up and practising their moves forty minutes before the kick-off, Donaghadee were looking for four of their team members up to five minutes before kick-off.

This difference in pre-match arrangements showed itself in the first twenty minutes of the game. Dungannon began with sustained attacks on the Donaghadee line. Perhaps a well warmed-up team should have accumulated points in this way, but first it is necessary to cross your opponent's line. Donaghadee may have been tardy in getting ready, but their determined tacklers refused to allow any way through the defence. Throughout what was a vital part of the action the Dee men defended with great vigour.

It is only rarely that one sees an attacking kick going all the way across the field as a deliberate tactic. On Saturday Nick Lord did just that, finding Hans Arthur eager to exploit it. He picked up the awkward bouncing ball and ran in a great try to set Donaghadee on their way. In quick succession the ever-present Brian Pyper and Paul Garnham ran in two more to take the score to 19-0 at the break. The Thirds had completed a marvellous half. All they needed to do was do it all over again.

Within two minutes of the restart came the best try of the game. From another clean line-out take the ball was transferred right across the backline for Kiwi Paul to garner himself and Donaghadee another try, this time right beneath the goalposts. Perhaps the men in red and green relaxed a little at this point and allowed Dungannon a consolation try near the end. But this still was not the finish. Nick Lord, who had had a great game, got his just deserts with a crowning try to make a final result a 29-7 victory for Peter Boyd's boys.

Once again the Donaghadee lads had got well stuck in, with the forwards always in complete control, even regularly getting possession in the scrums against the head. The Thirds have played hard and well all season, but have not enjoyed the best of fortune. Their efforts last week were a joy to watch and the result a fair reward."