Match Report by Geoff Ingham

Dee welcomed Cavan to Donaldson Park on Saturday for a Championship 3 league encounter.

Dee were hoping to bounce back after a disappointing performance the previous week. They were able to welcome back Matthew Stockton and Sam Ingham for their first appearances of the season. Phil Eadie moved into the Hooker position, allowing Alfie Thomas to make his first start at prop after his debut last week from the bench. Adam Russell started on the wing and Robbie Ingham moved back to fill the fullback position.

A squally shower just prior to the game had made the excellent surface slightly moist but the sun came out and the game was played in ideal conditions. Dee started strongly and took only three minutes to start the scoreboard ticking when outhalf Cohen Hurley forced his way over in the corner for an unconverted try.

A few minutes later the Dee’s second row crashed over under the posts and Hurley converted to take the score to 12-0.

Cavan then enjoyed some possession and territory but the Dee’s defence stood firm and coped with anything that Cavan threw at them. As the first quarter came to an end the Dee increased their lead. The ball was spun back and forth across the backline and then it was Sam Ingham who forced his way between two Cavan defenders to score. Hurley converted to push the score to 19-0.

A couple of minutes later the Dee secured their bonus point when Conor Moore scored his first try for the club which Hurley converted.

The next try was probably the best try of the day. Hurley gathered a kick inside his own 22 and then sent Robbie Ingham flying up the wing. The ball then went through several pairs of hands before Adam Russell sprinted over to score a real team try. Hurley was accurate again with his kick to push the score to 33-0.

A Cavan forward was sent to the sinbin for a deliberate knock on and the Dee took full advantage of the extra man when Russell scored his second try just before half-time.

The Dee continued to dominate in the second half and were rewarded with three more tries during the third quarter. The first one was scored by Phil Eadie who forced his way over after several drives by the forwards. Ten minutes later a delicate box kick over the visitor’s backline by Oli Hamilton was gathered by skipper Matthew Stockton who ran in to score. This time the try was converted by Adam McGrath.

Hamilton then got himself on the scoreboard when he dummied his pass and darted over to score. McGrath was successful with the conversion.

To give Cavan credit they did not let their heads drop and were rewarded with a try of their own after sixty five minutes. As the game drew to a close the Dee scored their final try of the day when the influential Will Hopes crashed over the line. McGrath converted to take the final score 66-5 to the Dee.

This was a much better performance with some impressive ball handling and support play which was appreciated by the large home support. The Copelands Distillery man of the match went to veteran Phil Eadie who impressed in both the set plays and the loose.

The Dee are at home again next week when they take on PSNI in the first round of the Gordon West Cup, k.o. 2.30 pm.