Narrow margins but victory secures City of Derry progress in Junior Cup

City of Derry 15 . . . Ballynahinch 14

City of Derry played a frustrating but exciting game as they progressed to the semi-final of the Junior Cup with the narrowest of victories over Ballynahinch 2nds at Judges Road on Saturday.

Richard McCarter’s team came into the game full of confidence after winning five games in a row and with the torrential rain stopping to allow the sun to shine for kick off, it was all set up for an intriguing game with high-scoring Derry arguably playing their best rugby in the last three years.

But Derry failed to hit the heights of recent weeks in a low-scoring game which showed the other side of McCarter’ squad, as they hung on to win despite playing far from their best rugby.

Started well

Derry kicked off well and within the first few minutes won themselves a line out. However, Ballynahinch won the line out before knocking the ball on straight away. Derry bounced back with some good kicking however the ball was turned over much to the home side’s frustration.

Ballynahinch tried to make use of the turnover and came close to opening the scoring through a goal line drop out but they couldn’t connect the last pass and City of Derry countered well.

The visitors got the line out again however and managed to drive winning the advantage over the Derry men. This allowed their fly half to chip the ball and score the first try of the match, adding the conversion to take a 0-7 lead.

From the restart Ballynahinch, buoyed by their start to the game, went straight in with a high tackle against City of Derry who kicked the penalty into the corner.

The home side were successful in this line out and made very good quick passes out, but unfortunately couldn’t quite get across the try line.

City of Derry's David Lapsley makes the tackle. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

Derry persevered and managed to win the scrum and play the ball out to the crashing Davy Graham who quickly passed off to Stephen Corr who took it across the line for City of Derry’s first score of the game. Alex McDonnell’s conversion brought the score level at 7-7.

If Derry thought they would find their rhythm after that uncertain start, they were mistaken as they found themselves behind again within minutes.

Ballynahinch came back fighting from the restart and a missed tackle by City of Derry’s midfield allowed number 6 to take the ball over the try line for another score for Ballynahinch. A second conversion brought the score to 7-14 just as the half time whistle blew.

Half Time 7-14

Knowing they had plenty of work to do, City of Derry came back for the second half with determination on their faces, and that attitude clearly paid off.

Straight from the kick Derry made a great start with fantastic runs from both Killene Thorton and Corr who managed to pass the ball out to Graham on the wing for City of Derry’s second try of the game.

It was a tricky spot for the conversion and it was just too narrow for McDonnell, who narrowly missed to leave the score at 12-14.

The game progressed with both teams playing well and trading blows but neither could catch a break to up their score. It looked like one of those days when a mistake or a moment of brilliance would decide the game in either team’s favour and it proved to be the former as Ballynahinch shot themselves in the foot late in the game.

The visitors had possession of the ball but had a poorly cleared kick which gave City of Derry a line out just short of Ballynahinch’s 22.

Further poor discipline from Ballynahinch gave Derry the kick in front of the goal and this time McDonnell made no mistake to give his team the lead for the first time in the game at 15-14.

City of Derry's David Graham scored a vital try for his team.

With less than a minute to go the Ballynahinch men gave their all, attacking the City of Derry defence, but the home side managed to force their opponents into a knock on, allowing for the final whistle which confirmed a narrow win, but a win nonetheless for the Judges Road side.

The victory keeps City of Derry’s hopes of a Junior Cup final and an appearance at Ravenhill alive as confidence, momentum and results are all with them heading into an exciting part of the season.