Adult male rugby returned to Donaldson Park yesterday for the first time in 11 months when Chris Moore brought a more useful Queens squad down from Upper Malone for a warm up game played as four quarters of 20 minutes each. Although missing quite a few due to holidays and cricket the Dee still had a strong squad in evidence with, for example, Ally Lockhart making his first appearance since returning from Bangor RFC and Zak Moraghan making his senior debut for the Club.

The Dee started the stronger of the two sides and continuous pressure led to Adam Alexander going over and Mark Cooper adding the extras. This served to wake up the young Queens side who quickly scored a try of their own which remained unconverted. The Dee then exerted their physical superiority at that point and crashed over by means of a driving maul, Cooper again converting before Queens responded with another unconverted try to leave the score at the end of the second quarter 14-10 in favour of the home side. With multiple changes in the middle two quarters plus successively losing two players who were yellow-carded the Dee lost their way a little and Queens responded in spirited fashion with two tries leaving them 20-14 ahead going into the final quarter. At this point Head Coach Paul Blewitt unloaded the experienced luminaries from the bench and two further tries were scored by the Dee men the second of which the result of a flowing movement ending with the returning Ben Siri gaining the touchdown in the corner. Cooper added the extras on both occasions to end a perfect day with the boot.

A useful hit-out then and we now look forward to welcoming old adversaries CIYMS to Donaldson Park next Saturday for the last pre-season game in advance of the first Kukri Ulster Championship 2 game on Saturday 28th August 2021 when Academy will be the visitors.