Match report by Geoff Ingham

Donaghadee travelled to Lisburn on Saturday for what was expected to be a closely contested league fixture. The team sheet showed a couple of changes from the previous week. In the forwards, Karl Yellop came in at number 8 with Sam Ingham moving to the blindside, replacing the unavailable Ali Barnes. It was pleasing to see Adam Lowry back at the club and he started for the first time this season at scrum-half with Robbie Ingham moving out to join Chris McGivern on the wings and Will Richards taking up the full back position. As usual, the faithful band of over 30 supporters had made the journey, despite the inclement weather, and spread out along the touchline to cheer on the team. The Dee got off to a fine start and quickly found themselves being awarded a penalty in the Lisburn 22. They opted for a kick to touch and from the resulting lineout almost managed to cross the line before Lisburn infringed again. Unfortunately, the next line out didn’t go to hand and allowed Lisburn to relieve the pressure. It was now the Dee’s turn to defend as the impressive Lisburn backline began to spread the ball to both wings and in the eighth minute the Lisburn right winger managed to score in the corner to give them a 5 -0 lead. This seemed to spur on the Dee and they began to put some good phases together and made good progress up the field. In the 14th minute, when the referee had signalled for a Dee penalty, out-half Mark Cooper tried a speculative kick towards the corner, but despite a great effort, Robbie Ingham just failed to grasp it. With no advantage gained the Dee opted to go for the posts and Karl Yellop slotted over the kick to bring the score to 5-3 to Lisburn. At this stage the Dee were playing their best rugby and were soon rewarded when Lisburn knocked on close to their own line. From the scrum Yellop picked up and drove close to the line and quickly recycled the ball. Lowry passed to a charging Conor Fulton who crashed through the Lisburn defence to score. Yellop converted to give the Dee the lead for the first time, 10-5. Dee continued this pressure and on the half hour mark were awarded another penalty which Yellop again converted to extend the lead to 13-5. Lisburn were then reduced to 14 men when their flanker was yellow carded for repeated team infringements. Shortly afterwards the referee evened up the numbers when he yellow carded the Dee fullback for a high tackle. The half drew to a close leaving the supporters wondering if the Dee had a sufficient enough lead as they turned round to face the elements.

The second half began with the breeze picking up and rain now sweeping down the field. Initially Lisburn coped best with the moist conditions and soon had the Dee pinned in their own half. The defensive line, however, stayed intact as both backs and forwards combined to keep Lisburn at bay. Conor Fulton, who had been playing well, had to leave the field with a rib injury and was replaced by Jamie Wilson. Andy McCracken came off the bench 10 minutes later, replacing Callum Montgomery who had put in a hard shift in the second row. Just before the hour mark Lisburn clawed back some of the lead when they converted a penalty conceded by the Dee for not rolling away. Five minutes later, on a rare visit to the Lisburn 22, the Dee had a chance to go two scores ahead again but unfortunately the penalty attempt drifted just wide of the posts. This seemed to give Lisburn a belief that they could snatch a win and set up camp inside the Dee’s half once more. Despite some heroic defence, including a bone crunching tackle by Ewan McCracken, Lisburn were awarded another penalty on the Dee’s 10 yard line. With the wind at his back the Lisburn kicker had no trouble with both accuracy and distance, reducing the Dee’s lead to a meagre 2 points. With only 8 minutes remaining the Dee tried to hold on to the ball and the forwards had several good drives up into the Lisburn half, until Yellop was harshly yellow carded for allegedly diving over the ball. As the last few minutes ticked by Lisburn were awarded a penalty just inside the Dee’s half and decided to have a kick for the win. Thankfully, for the Dee, the kick came up short and Chris Hamilton kicked the ball dead as the ref blew for full time. An important win for the Dee after last weeks close defeat.

Several players put their hands up for the man of the match, in the forwards Chris Hamilton and Ewan McCracken had good performances, whilst in the backs Adams Alexander and Lowry were solid in both defence and attack. However, for his aggressive driving, strong tackling and his kicking prowess, this week’s award goes to Karl Yellop.

The next league fixture is on Saturday 10th October against Randalstown at Donaldson Park at 2.30pm.