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League Match: R.U.C. 12 - 23 Donaghadee (11/03/00)

"DONAGHADEE ON THE BEAT AT R.U.C.

Donaghadee played into a slight breeze in the first half against the R.U.C. last Saturday on a day which was almost perfect for rugby football. It quickly became apparent that the big police pack were going to be hard to shift, and that their tall jumpers would be claiming more than their share of line-out ball. The Dee forwards were probably conceding up to two stone a man, and so could do little else but strive away as best they could and widen the scope of the game to utilise their own assets of fitness and speed.

Right from the beginning it was obvious that Donaghadee were going to run the ball at every opportunity, opening out from every kick ahead they received, and taking quick throw-ins to launch a series of blitzkrieg attacks across the field. All Donaghadee's best penetrations came in this less than usual fashion, with the attacks starting from the back, instead of the more usual starting point of the forward set pieces and second phase possessions.

These waves of attacks were very stirring to watch, not to mention entertaining, because their origination from the backfield trio of Jeff Allen, Kurt Courtney and Ian Martindale meant that by the time the police cordon was in place the attack had been carried by a mixture of backs and forwards almost to the R.U.C. line. The last ditch defence of the R.U.C., as one would expect, was very steady, and they managed to make the crucial tackles a number of times, often close to their goal-line.

At one of these despairing last-ditch tackles Donaghadee were awarded a penalty kick for men diving over the ball. Paul Blewitt made no mistake with the kick and put Donaghadee into a narrow lead. This soon became a bigger lead when yet another enterprising run from a quick throw took the men in red and green up to the police line. A scrum was awarded, Donaghadee heeled the ball quickly, and the whole of the police back row went for a walk to the blind side. Aaron Martin saw this, picked up the ball and almost strolled over for a strangely easy try, immediately converted to take Donaghadee to 10-0.

This was soon 13-0 after a 35 metre penalty by Blewitt. The tide was now running for Donaghadee, and the R.U.C. knew it. The Donaghadee supporters became incensed when one of the opposition forwards used his size twelves for a purpose they were not designed for, fortunately for him out of the referee's sight. Thankfully the unfortunate Donaghadee wing forward, John Carlile, recovered and continued to play his Neil Back-style game as well as before. He was quickly into a back row run of quality when Martin picked up and ran, fed to Will Hopes and then to Carlile for a ground gain of about seventy metres. Close but not quite a cigar!

A bit of petulance, however, gave Donaghadee a penalty close to the R.U.C. line. Ever-alert Matt Duff took it quickly, ran and fed Ginger McMinn who flashed it right. Paul Blewitt, with what to this writer looked like total bewilderment for a second, took the ball, spun round 360 degrees and totally confused the converging defenders leaving a narrow hole. Blewitt, who insists that his move was completely planned, saw the space and darted through it for a try close to the posts, giving him the opportunity to take the score to 20-0 as the half ended.

Now playing with the wind lifting their tail feathers, and the knowledge that the game was effectively won, the Donaghadee backs and forwards tried a series of good runs, one even including a delicate Michael Lynagh-type chip from his fellow-Aussie, Scott English. Neither this attack nor any of the others produced the final score, mostly due to the strong R.U.C. tackling, but also because some of the Donaghadee passing either came too late or was not too accurate when delivered.

From well inside their own "22" Allen and Carlile combined to gain three further points for Donaghadee. Well, that's their story. Jeff went after a grubber kick and was unceremoniously knocked over just before he reached it, giving Carlile the chance to pick it up and begin a counter. He then ran sufficiently far into his opponents' half to make the kick unmissable, he says, and Blewitt did the honours.

At 23-0, the R.U.C. team was out of it. The wind was no longer their friend, they were tired, and their backs were not making the best of use of their won ball. But sometimes luck, or the gods, or something else takes a hand. On a rare attack the R.U.C. took the ball to five metres from the Donaghadee line, where the visitors knocked the ball on. The Dee were penalised at this scrum, and as the ref was pointing infield to where the kick should be taken, R.U.C. quickly took the kick a few steps behind his back and dived over. When the referee spun round and awarded the try, Donaghadee were not best pleased, but they know that on the pitch he is the sole judge.

Instead of learning from this, the Dee players fell into the same trap a minute or two later. When a police runner appeared to smack the ball forward with his hand, some of the Dee men stopped for a second. This gave the momentum to R.U.C. who collected round the ball. Donaghadee threw their weight into the maul and ten or twelve bodies crashed over the Dee line in a heap. When the players broke up the ref declared that the police had scored again. The kick now made the score 23-12. This did not seem as convincing as 23-0, but with little time remaining really did not matter much. When English went down with a bad dead leg a few moments later, the whistle blew for no-side and the match was over, with Donaghadee left to reflect that they had made a few mistakes, lost concentration for a few seconds and played very well for much of the game.

The always amazing Donaghadee supporters were agreed that there is no better way to enjoy a Saturday afternoon. Not only do Donaghadee perform well, they also entertain. This is most important because it makes people want to play, want to watch, and want to join the Donaghadee club. Next week is Clogher Valley away and the following Saturday Limavady at home. There is no reason why this team should not take all the points from these two encounters, and this would put Donaghadee right back in contention for the League. A coach has been arranged for the day-trip to Fivemiletown. Details from Willie D or from the Club."