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Friendly: Donaghadee 63 - 0 Shorts (29/08/00)

"SHORTS' SHRIFT AT DONAGHADEE

North Down neighbours, Shorts, were unfortunate to visit Donaghadee for a friendly match last weekend on a day when the home side were on top form.  Right from the kick-off Donaghadee ran the ball up the slope at their opponents with such energy that they were never going to be denied.  Within fifteen minutes the home side had scored four times, firstly when centre Aaron Martin did the work to allow Kurt Courtney time to stab a penetrating through the Shorts defence and send Clay Gallagher in for his first try in his first Donaghadee match, followed in quick succession by a skilful back movement which resulted in a fine score for Kurt Courtney, a forward surge concluded by Will Hopes and a team effort which saw Scott English make an opening for his captain, Matt Duff.

Just as the half ended one of the Shorts players, no doubt over-eager to stem this tide, became the first opponent of Donaghadee's to be sin-binned.  Not long after the re-start came a couple more tries, one by Paul Blewitt, and a few successful kicks at goal meant that the scoresheet now showed Donaghadee thirty-five points in front.  Donaghadee were now rampant and a good back movement finished with Matt Turner scoring an excellent try.  This was quickly followed by two scores from Davy Brown and a solo effort from a tap penalty from the elegant Duffer.

Davy Brown was denied his hat-trick a little while later when John Anderson chose to turn inside for his try-making pass to the fast-supporting Clay Gallagher who closed the game's scoring at 63 - 0 to Donaghadee.  Clay's over-all performance on his debut made him the unanimous choice for man of the match which later entitled him to a brief tenure of the large tankard.

With League matches imminent and a still-blending side, Donaghadee needed this game, and were most appreciative that the Shorts club, beset with a plague of cry-offs, still honoured the fixture, and made a match of it."