Letterkenny RC 1st XV vs Donaghadee RFC 1st XV
Match Reporter - Mark Nicholl

Being December there may have been few locals expecting perfect rugby conditions to be booked in for the big game of the weekend away to our friends in Letterkenny. The reality of it all was a bit of squeaky bum time waiting on news from the north west on two fronts. Firstly, is the pitch going to pass an inspection by the referee and secondly will the Dee fun bus be able to make it over the winter wonderland of the Glenshane Pass. Thankfully it was a tick in the box on both counts and the Donaghadee contingent set forth for Dave Gallaher Park.
After the old chaps from both sides treated the spectators to some free-flowing exhibition rugby as a warm up for the eyeballs it was time for the Dee management and first XV team to take to the field for a professional and thorough set warm-up. The intensity built swiftly, and the team came together with a firm and steadfast focus.

And so it began! Under a blue sky pregnant with snow and roar from the side-lines, the referee’s whistle signalled the start of the sub-zero temperature match as the Donaghadee 1st XV took on the challenge brought by the men in black and yellow hoops, the Letterkenny 1st XV.
The Letterkenny out half started the game with a kick towards the Dee 22, the ball was kept in play by Adam Torrens and the prop displayed a turn of pace that caught the onrushing attack out followed by a lovely pass inside to the supporting pack. Full back, Andy Cash, then chipped the ball over the LETTERKENNY defensive line and the ball was then gathered by the 9, Andy Monson, in open play. The ball was then held up by the oncoming defence but strong mauling by the Dee pack led by Ryan Campbell enabled quick ball to be presented to the out half, Mark Cooper, who distributed the ball through soft hands to the big second row, Kyle Morrow, who showed some slick handling to score in the corner. Horrible conditions made the extra two points difficult to come by with a nudge going wide from the boot of Monson.

The Dee forwards then packed down in a scrum from a Dee knock on and Letterkenny then showed that they had a powerful scrummaging pack as the Dee tight five struggled to gain ascendancy. After a couple of phases of play the ball was turned over by some enterprising play from LETTERKENNY but an unfortunate knock on saw a scrum set piece on the LETTERKENNY 22 close to the touch line. The Dee pack was anchored by Ryan Campbell and Adam Torrens, the ball came swiftly down the channel via a clean hook by Gareth Deering. Player coach Connor Shane McKee protected the 9, allowing Andy Monson to deliver a pin point accurate pass to Captain Matthew Stockton on a crash ball. Again the LETTERKENNY defence was making a nuisance of itself and the ball was spilled forward. The opening phases of play from both sides contained some aspects of powerful play from the pack but understandably cold hands from the back line with warm shoulders in the tackle saw knock-ons from both sides in the middle of the park. Unfortunately a injury to Adam Torrens saw Dan Lindsay come on earlier than planned.

The fifteen Dee men galvanised into a strong defensive unit with the LETTERKENNY side unable to spend any time in the Dee half. On the fifteenth minute with LETTERKENNY in possession, their centre was held up in the maul on their five-metre line with Rory Garnham and Connor O’Byrne showing great upper body strength. From the resultant Dee scrum the pack delivered clean ball under pressure to enable a paddock honed strike move that resulted in Stockton crossing the try line. Again, the conversion sailed high and wide of the posts.

A couple of minutes later after some quality open field play from LETTERKENNY the Dee defence frustrated the LETTERKENNY attack as they could not get over the half way line, a chip through was gathered by the Dee fullback, Andy Cash, but with some superb chasing the Letterkenny back line applied pressure and a knock on in the ruck from a Dee hand ensued. The Letterkenny pack then showed their power and with the scrum on the five metre line, the brave Dee pack could not hold back the dominant scrum. After two collapsed scrums under the pressure exerted by the Letterkenny tight five the referee awarded a penalty to the home side. Of course, the call from the Letterkenny captain was to scrum again. The result was another Dee collapsed scrum, penalty try awarded to Letterkenny.

With only a few minutes until half time a resurgent LETTERKENNY had a foray into the Dee half repelled by stout defence led by Matthew Johnson and typical hard graft at the breakdown by master of the dark arts, Chris Hamilton. The LETTERKENNY attack was awarded a scrum and they used this weapon with great effect and the referee awarded a scrum penalty due to the pressure brought on the shoulders of the Dee front row. The LETTERKENNY 10 stepped up and pushed the Dee back to 15m from their try line with a nudge from his right foot. The consummate line out operator, Connor O’Byrne, got hands to the ball thanks to a crisp lift from Lindsay and Campbell. The ball was then drove down field by the boot of Cooper and with a great chase by Garnham and McKee the LETTERKENNY wing was forced into touch 20m out. With the Dee line out working well the ball was secured and delivered through the hands to Stockton. Home defence stood proud bundling Garnham into touch on the home 5m line. At half time the Dee were 10 points to 7 up with all to play for.

With the second half underway determined LETTERKENNY phase play was met by Dee defensive steel. After a promising incursion into the Dee half up to the ten metre line the ball was stolen at the line out by O’Byrne. The resultant defensive effort saw a high tackle from Letterkenny that was deemed a yellow card offence by the match official.

The men from Letterkenny proudly pulled together a period of sustained pressure against the Dee, using their strong scrum as a launch pad to force themselves proudly toward the Dee line. The defence were tested time and again but stood strong and alert. When in possession the Donaghadee 15 were playing an expansive game, building the phases and patiently building momentum. However, the conditions were not conducive to this type of play and handling errors meant a prolonged period of time was spent between each side 22m line.
The attrition rate on the LETTERKENNY side was now telling, even with the full complement on the pitch, and with the Dee conditioning and grit proving irresistible. A Dee scrum 15m out from the Letterkenny try line in the middle of the park saw quick ball nullify the powerful opposition pack, slick hands and rapid rucking saw the ball arrive in Connor Mckee’s hands and with a trademark powerful carry from close range saw him cross the line for a five pointer. The conversion points went begging.

The restart from the valiant LETTERKENNY had the pack take control of the ball and an infringement on the floor saw Monson sin binned. The Dee knuckled down during the ten minute period and did not cough up any points. With ten minutes to the whistle Letterkenny power play saw the big 8 cross the Dee line but the double movement was spotted by the referee and the Dee got an easy escape route through the awarded penalty. A high tackle post line-out saw a penalty awarded to Letterkenny about 15m out from the posts. The captain opted for the three points and the out half obliged him. Full time Letterkenny 10, Donaghadee 15.

The Letterkenny side showed great heart and fortitude throughout the game and played with great spirit in testing conditions. The Dee displayed a determination in adversity with a combination of poor playing conditions, loose handling and a struggling scrum meaning the game was a hard-fought win. The squad and coaching staff can be rightly proud that the team ground out another win away from home.

Captain Matthew Stockton was the days MOTM for his fierce tackling, determined running and getting on the score sheet.

1 Adam Torrens
2 Gareth Deering
3 Ryan Campbell
4 Connor O’Byrne
5 Kyle Morrow
6 Matthew Johnson
7 Chris Hamilton
8 Connor McKee
9 Andy Monson
10 Mark Cooper
11 Chris Knox
12 Matthew Stockton (c)
13 Rory Garnham
14 Robbie Ingham
15 Andy Cash
16 Dan Lindsay
17 Jack Chesney