A much changed Donaghadee side travelled to Rifle Park for the second in their series of Conference League games – this time to face Banbridge II who had been heavily beaten in Carrick the previous weekend. With Chris Good, Matthew Kennedy, Tommy Scullion, Ryan Irvine, Paul Blewitt, Chris McGivern, Chris Scott and Andy Jarvis not travelling for a variety of reasons the coaching team once again explored their options with Blair Savage and Richard Bailey making their competitive debuts, Adam Torrans & Matthew Johnson both moving into the unfamiliar second row position and Chris Hamilton, Mark Cooper and skipper Nigel Barker also returning for their first competitive game of the season. In the latter’s case this was indeed a welcome return after an injury absence of almost a year.

The Banbridge side had evidently strengthened their personnel after last week’s performance and threatened from kick-off with their strong running centre punching holes in the Dee defence. Regrettably, at this point, the Dee appeared to have left their game plan and defensive line in the changing room and sustained home pressure led to a flying start with Banbridge scoring two converted tries in quick succession. This pattern continued for the next fifteen minutes with Banbridge threatening in Dee territory but gradually the away side scrambled their way back into the game led by the experience of Jack Cooke, Gareth Gordon and Hamilton in the forwards and Barker and in the backs their defence improved markedly and, ultimately, their line was not to be crossed again. On thirty minutes a break by Hamilton and Cooke paved the way for scrum half Chade Gelderman to release his backs with swift passing reaching outside centre Johnny Quigg who stood his man up before going outside & then inside the home defence to score from forty metres out. The conversion was missed and half time was reached with no further change to the scoreboard – 14-5 to Banbridge.

In the second half the Dee were a changed side and were now dominating most phases of play. The younger members of the pack – having taken the lead of their more senior peers – were now playing to their abilities and Gareth Deering, Owen Roberts and Johnson all impressed with stout defence and driving offence. Crucially the front row of Deering, Gordon & Savage had found the measure of their opposition and Gelderman had settled into his game and began to threaten from all phases of play allowing No. 10 Barker to bring his centres and back three into play. Wings Andy McGrugan and Andy Cash & full-back Bailey all threatened but, unfortunately, the final ball was either put to ground or chipped kicked away. Finally, on the fifty minute mark, sustained pressure by the Dee pack allowed Gelderman and Barker to spin the ball wide and clever work by centres Cooper & Quigg delivered a pass to the supporting Torrans who fed left wing Cash who raced in to score the second try. Barker added the extras with a difficult conversion from the corner.

With the Dee being now only two points behind they were in drop or penalty goal territory but, to their credit, they continued to spread the ball and only desperate Banbridge defence prevented further scoring. With fifteen minutes to go the Dee won a line-out fifteen metres out and, after ball was secured, Cooke extracted it from the back of the maul ten metres out and drove for the line with four of the home pack attempting to deny his progress. This was to prove to be of no avail as the No. 8 barged his way over the line carrying two of the opposition with him to score what was to prove to be the crucial try. Once again Barker kicked the difficult conversion. The Dee continued to attack in pursuit of the bonus point score but, in the final five minutes, Banbridge were sparked into life and threatened the Dee line virtually for the first time in the second half but sterling defence – led by Hamilton Cooke and Roberts up front and Barker, Cooper and Quigg in the backs – denied any further scoring to leave the final result 19-12 in favour of the Dee.

Although the coaching team will have been alarmed by the Dee’s slow start they will have taken great heart from the improving displays of some of the new boys and belligerent attitude of the side in adversity. Especially pleasing was the performance of the back row in which Jack Cooke and Chris Hamilton were outstanding (ably supported by the ever improving Owen Roberts). These Conference League games, if nothing else, are giving this fledgling side the opportunity to find their feet and they look forward to welcoming back not only most of those absentees mentioned above but also the likes of Billy Allen and Richard Martindale before the start of the Qualifying League in October.