Disappointment at Donaldson Park

Match report by Geoff Ingham

Donaghadee entertained Ballymoney at Donaldson Park on Saturday in a Kukri Championship League game. With the recent inclement weather the game was in doubt all week but thankfully, despite the moist conditions underfoot, both teams provided an entertaining game. With several players unavailable the Dee team had several changes from their last outing. Garry Smith was the only change in the forwards but the backline looked very different with Robbie Ingham moving into the scrum half position whilst teenagers Adam Russell and Adam Craig played on the wing. Matthew Stockton started at full back after being out for several months due to injury. The visitors started strongly and a long-range penalty effort after 5 minutes fell just short. However, a couple of minutes later their kicker made no mistake with his second attempt to give Ballymoney a 3-0 lead. Shortly afterwards the Dee won a penalty after an impressive scrum and Mark Cooper kicked to the corner. From a clean take at the lineout from Sam Ingham the pack set up an excellent maul and Robbie Grant was able to crash over to score. The conversion was missed to leave the score at 5-3 to the Dee. Almost immediately the lead changed hands for the second time when the Ballymoney winger scored an unconverted try in the corner after collecting a ball which bounced kindly for him after a kick ahead. Half way through the half the Dee made full use of their dominance at the scrum and worked themselves deep into the Ballymoney 22. From another scrum Sam Ingham picked up and was stopped just short. Dee managed to recycle the ball and it was Jack Cooke this time who crashed over the line. Cooper was successful with the conversion to take the score to 12-8 in the Dee’s favour. On the half hour Stockton, unfortunately, had to leave the field after a reoccurrence of his knee injury. This forced the Dee to reorganise and Chris Hamilton moved from the pack into the centre with Owen Roberts joining the forwards. Ballymoney profited from this disruption when their impressive fullback gathered a kick at the half way line and jinked his way past several defenders before sending his outhalf under the posts. The successful kick put the visitors 15-12 ahead. The Dee pack, however, continued to have the upper hand in the scrums which ultimately led to a Ballymoney prop being shown the yellow card. The Dee immediately took advantage of the extra man when they spun the ball across the backline and the evergreen Chris McGivern drew the last defender before passing to young Adam Craig who touched down for an excellent try on his debut. The difficult conversion was missed and the half ended with the Dee holding a 17-15 lead.

The first part of the second half was a stop-start affair with the Dee giving away a plethora of penalties which stopped them from putting any rhythm into their play. Ballymoney benefited from one of these penalties when they were successful with a long range effort after 52 minutes which gave them a one point lead. Ballymoney then enjoyed the majority of possession and territory for the next ten minutes and it was only a couple of critical turnovers by Ali Barnes that kept them at bay. When Dee eventually made their way into the Ballymoney half it was their scrum which provided the platform as the referee awarded yet another penalty. Cooper calmly slotted it over to move the score to 20-18 in the Dee’s favour. The last ten minutes was a tense affair with the Dee hanging on by their fingertips. A penalty for a high tackle gave Ballymoney a chance to regain the lead but the Dee supporters breathed a sigh of relief as it sailed wide of the posts. Just as it looked like the Dee had managed to win the Ballymoney fullback went on another impressive run and was stopped only yards from the line. With the Dee defence stretched Ballymoney ran the ball along the backline and the winger touched down in the corner to snatch a 23-20 victory.

The losing bonus point provided little consolation for an extremely disappointed Dee team who, with better game management, should have won this fixture. They have a difficult run ahead with 4 out of their 5 league games left away from home. If this team are serious about making the playoffs they will all have to be fully committed over the next couple of months. A full turn out at training is essential if the level of performance required is to be achieved. The next league game is away to Randalstown on 5th March at 2.30pm.