With the periphery of Storm Jorge prevalent in Donaghadee on Leap Saturday the efforts of the twenty or so volunteers who had turned up in the morning to spike the 1st XV pitch was evident as the newly lined track was soft but eminently playable. The wind and rain persisted however and, having lost the toss, the home side kicked off into the wind and “up the hill”! The Dee pack set a marker from the start and some trademark Ray Dobson carries took them into Lurgan territory and with only two minutes played scrum-half Robbie Ingham broke right before finding his halfback partner Mark Cooper who dinked inside his opposite number to create a gap and then pass to the supporting Matthew Stockton who sprinted thirty five metres to cross for a try halfway between the posts and the corner flag. Unfortunately the ensuing conversion was missed but Donaghadee had started very brightly with the elements against them. Three minutes later the Dee lost the returning Danny McBride to injury and Chris Scott had to move from the back row to the wing with Kyle Morrow coming off the bench to take up a position in the pack. Lurgan responded robustly and were soon encamped deep in Dee territory. Successive visiting scrummages were repelled but the abrasive Lurgan pack were not to be denied and, with ten minutes played, forced their way over after textbook execution of the rolling maul. Visiting full-back Stephen Nolan added the extras to take his side into a 7-5 lead. Amid fairly horrendous conditions Donaghadee now employed the use of their strike runners to gain position and momentum and throughout the remainder of the half put the opposition under considerable pressure with Dobson, Stockton, Sam Ingham, Jack Chesney, Adam Alexander, Will Hopes and Chris Hamilton prominent in exchanges. The “pick and go” was clearly the tactic to employ in these conditions and this brought territory for the Dee before Cooper released his threequarters – Stockton and Alexander both unlucky not to break through. The Lurgan defensive line remained resolute however and half-time was reached with no further change to the scoreboard.

The home support – both those hardy souls who braved the elements outside and those (many) more who sought the refuge of the Clubhouse – fully expected Donaghadee to dominate in the second half given they now had the advantage of the elements and the “hill”. Lurgan had other ideas however and their preferred strategy of “pick and go” together with a drop in the intensity of the adverse weather conditions both combined to put the Dee under significant pressure close to their own line in the first twenty minutes of the second half. Immense Donaghadee defence kept their opponents at bay and two turnovers were won to repel the visitors advances. With sixty minutes played the referee reversed his decision to award Donaghadee a relieving twenty-two after the intervention of the Lurgan touch-judge and Lurgan were awarded a lineout fifteen metres out. After winning the lineout Lurgan held true to their “nine man game” edging ever closer to the Dee line before eventually breaking the home resolve to force their way over between the posts – Nolan again adding the extras. Donaghadee responded quickly and a few minutes later Cooper converted a penalty to leave the score at 14-8 in favour of the visitors. For the last fifteen minutes of the game all the pressure lay with home side and despite the best efforts of Hamilton, Dobson, Sam Ingham et al their peerless defence and game management held the Dee men at bay. Successively Dobson and Chris McGivern nearly broke through the defensive line but with five minutes injury time played the referee brought the game to a close with Donaghadee having to make do with a losing bonus point.

In truth either side could have won this feisty encounter but Lurgan’s superb defensive effort in the second half probably just edged the result in their favour. The usual tyros once again put their hands up for selection as Man of the Match – Ray Dobson putting in yet another magnificent effort but just being overtaken by Sam Ingham whose hard work in both defence and attack were exemplary.

Although disappointed by the result skipper Stockton and his side now look forward to Saturday 14th March when they travel the short distance to Hamilton Park for the much awaited return league game against Ards. The Ards Club have a big day planned so Dee supporters are asked to get there as early as they can for the 2:30pm kick-off and reciprocate the excellent support Ards afforded Donaghadee in the reverse fixture a few months ago. The 1st XV have no game next week (7th) but the 2nd XV travel to Inishowen for the Butler Shield Semi-Final. A bus is leaving the Club at 10am (sharp) returning at 8:30pm and if you wish to support the 2s in their quest for silverware please book by emailing Graham Miller at grm79@hotmail.co.uk .