Lynch’s men complete fightback

City of Derry continued their recent run of good form when they defeated Ballymena at Judges Road on Saturday in the Ulster Senior League.

Bevan Lynch’s men produced a great second half performance to wipe away a 19-3 half time deficit and score twenty four unanswered points as they touched down for four tries and a bonus point victory.

Also in victory they wiped away the memories of their narrow defeat to Ballymena in the Ulster Senior Cup semi-final also at Judges Road at the end of November when following a gandstand finish the Braidmen clung on for a 33-27 victory.

Derry started brightly in front of a reasonable crowd for a New Year’s Eve fixture and were three points up on seven minutes when Richard Peoples converted following an off side decision against Ballymena. The home side’s lead was short lived when excellent inter play from the Ballymena backs allowed out half Martin Irwin to touch down for an unconverted try and a 5-3 lead with 12 minutes gone.

Derry came back strongly from the restart but were rocked back a minute later when Ballymena winger John Semple intercepted to run over 60 meters to touchdown between the posts for a fortuitous try which he converted himself and a 12-3 lead. Derry were dominating the forward exchanges as the first half progressed with Chris Shields, Captain Sam McAuley and Sam Duffy supported by Bob McKillop and David Houston proving to be the better scrimmaging side all through and Houston and Stephen Corr dominated the lineout.

Derry deserved a better return for their efforts as they dominated possession and the hardworking back row who made sure it was going to be Stephen’s Day as Corr, Ferguson and Duffy were winning the battle in the loose and were unlucky on a number of occasions not get through for a deserved score.

Despite Derry’s dominance the last score of the first half came on the half time whistle. David O’Hara, Martin Irwin and Richard Aingworth combined to create the opening for centre Ali Fraser to score a try which was converted by Irwin to give Ballymena a 19-3 half-time lead.

Derry started the second half with some intent and Josh Lewis (wing) had replaced the injured Chris Barbour with Adam Bratton moving to centre. It was non stop attack with Derry centre David Funston showing the commitment and leadership needed that ignited some outstanding back play. Derry produced a massive 5 meter scrum against the head on seven minutes and with Ballymena on the back foot Stephen Ferguson picked up the loose ball to touch down for an unconverted try and Derry were 8prs to 19pts down.

Coach Lynch made some dramatic changes moving Simon Logue from full back to scrum half and Andrew Semple from that position to out half, he also introduce Peter Henderson at full back who was coming back from a broken jaw received at the end of October.

The impact was immediate as Ferguson picked up turnover ball on the half way line with 19 minutes gone and passed to Henderson who with his first touch of the ball ran over 50 metres in an exhilarating run that saw him ghost and side step past four defenders to touch down for an awe-inspiring try between the posts and with Semple converting Derry had reduced the deficit to 15-19.

Derry were in the lead on 25 minutes when great driving support play in their own half from Ferguson, Corr and Houston allowed Man of the Match Stephen Ferguson to release speedy winger William McCleery who took play deep into the Ballymena half. The resultant ruck 30 metres out on the right wing saw quick ball transferred from Logue to Andrew Semple who with great vision kicked a 35 metre cross filed pass to Josh Lewis on the left wing and when he collected to ball in his stride he sprinted in for a memorable try and with Semple converting Derry’s lead was 22-19.

It was all Derry now as David Witherow who had paid to see the game was brought onto the bench as a late replacement and now was second row and he was joined by Gareth Beatty at prop.

The power of both players produced an immediate impact as they combined to release Sam McAuley for what looked a certain try but unfortunately the opportunity was lost. The game was now in the balance as it entered the last 10 minutes, David Funston was solid in defence and produced a massive tackle on 36 minutes to thwart a Ballymena attack as did Josh Lewis a few minutes later, Funston was well supported in midfield by Adam Bratton all through as their defence was rock solid.

Derry finally wrapped the game up as full time approached and that man Ferguson produced a powerful drive again and when Logue and Semple combined to free Josh Lewis on the left wing he showed power and pace to beat two men on a 40 metre run to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try and secure a well deserved victory for the Judges Road men by 27-19.

City of Derry: Chris Shields, Sam McAuley, Sam Duffy, David Houston, Bob McKillop, Stephen Ferguson, Stephen Corr, Steehen Duffy, Andrew Semple, Richard Peoples, William McCleery, David Funston, Chris Barbour, Adam Bratton, Simon Logue. Replacements: Gareth Beatty, David Witherow, Brian Prue, Josh Lewis, Peter Henderson.