Match Report by Geoff Ingham

Donaghadee welcomed the early season league leaders, Limavady, on Saturday at Donaldson Park and were in no doubt about the challenge that lay ahead of them. The Dee were still missing some key personnel such as Paul Johnston, Matthew Stockton and Adam Alexander and this week saw Sam Ingham and Mark Cooper being added to the injury list. The heavy overnight rain had made the pitch moist underfoot but the game kicked off in bright autumnal sunshine. Limavady were quickly into their stride and took only three minutes to register their first try when a slick back move resulted in the winger going over in the corner. For the next ten minutes the Dee had their backs to the wall but showed good determination in defence including a crunching tackle by Ben Siri on his opposite number which almost certainly prevented another score. This pressure, however, eventually paid off for Limavady when their No. 8 broke through a tackle in midfield and sauntered under the posts. The conversion was successful to bring the score to 12-0. Limavady added another score four minutes later when good interplay up the left wing allowed the winger to run in under the posts to make the conversion a formality and push the score to 19-0. At this stage the home support were fearing the worst but to their credit the Dee upped their game and gave as good as they got for the remainder of the half. Some good defensive work by Robbie Ingham, in his first game at fullback, relieved the pressure on several occasions and a couple of trademark barnstorming runs by Karl Yellop (pictured) almost resulted in the Dee getting on the scoresheet. Another pleasing feature for the coaches was the performance of the Dee scrum which more than matched the Limavady eight all day. Props Ray Dobson and Ali Barnes were excellent at scrum time and also contributed well in the loose.

The second half was barely underway when Limavady secured their bonus point with a slightly fortuitous try when the ball shot out of the tunnel on a Dee scrum and was picked up by the Limavady No. 8 who ran on and scored. The referee awarded the try and the conversion was successful. Ten minutes later it was the Dee who scored when out-half Danny McBride threw an excellent dummy and then showed his pace by outsprinting the defence to score. Yellop was successful with the kick to bring the score to 26-7. Limavady struck back soon after when their impressive No.8 picked up from the base of a scrum and forced his way over to score his third try of the day. Minutes later, Limavady added to the total when they moved the ball to the winger who then found his flanker in support. The successful conversion took the score to 38-7. Limavady were reduced to fourteen men when their hooker was shown the yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. The Dee took advantage of this and managed to score their second try of the afternoon. From a solid scrum Stephen Adams picked up and made good ground before slipping the ball to the mercurial Chris Hamilton who crashed over to score. Yellop again converted to make the score 38-14. Similar to last week, the opposition then scored a further two tries in the last five minutes of the game to make the final score 52-14 to an impressive Limavady outfit.

A hard day at the office for the Dee but their attitude and determination could not be faulted. All seventeen players gave their all, none more so than man-of -the-match Stephen Adams who was outstanding throughout the game. The Dee now have a week off before a trip to Randalstown on Saturday 12th October.