The Dee travelled to Stormont on Saturday to play Civil Service in a Championship 3 League game. The teamsheet had a slightly different look about it this week. In the forwards Sam Moore and Ray Dobson were unavailable but Sam Ingham was back from injury. In the backline David Kirkpatrick replaced the injured Paul Johnston whilst Carter Long and Adam Russell were given an opportunity to impress on the wings. Matthew Pentland started at out half for the injured Harry McCracken. The weather was befitting to the first day of Spring and the pitch was in excellent condition. The Dee started well and started to put together several good phases of play. On the 8 minute mark the Dee opened their account when Nathan Boyd broke the defensive line and then popped the ball to Ali Lockhart who squeezed over in the corner. Pentland was successful with the difficult conversion to give the Dee a 7-0 lead. Only 3 minutes later the lead was doubled when Pentland scored and converted after a fine break by Robbie Ingham. The Dee continued to pressurise the Service defence who worked hard to keep their visitors out. However, in the 25 minutes it was Owen Roberts who crashed over under the posts to give Pentland an easy conversion. Try of the day came next when Dee executed a lineout move straight off the training paddock. Sam Ingham took the ball at the front and passed to Rudi Ioasa who literally flew through the air to touch down in the corner – bringing the fact that Kiwis don’t fly into question! Pentland maintained his 100% record by converting from the touchline to leave the half time score 28-0 to the Dee. It was Service who had the better start to the second half and quickly got on the scoresheet when they won a penalty, kicked to touch and then scored from the subsequent driving maul. The successful conversion brought the score to 28-7. Dee replied almost immediately, captain Matthew Stockton showing his pace by rounding the last defender to score an unconverted try in the corner. At this stage Daniel Onstwedder replaced the injured Sam Ingham and Joebe Basuel came on for his first appearance of the season. In the 50th minute Carter Long made an excellent break down the left wing and was stopped just short of the line. The ball was recycled through several pairs of hands and it was Pentland who went over for his second of the day. The successful conversion pushed the score to 40-7. Morgan Paulin had come off the bench by this stage, making his first appearance for almost two years due to two knee operations. The biggest cheer of the day from the visiting Dee supporters came when Paulin ran an excellent line to run in untouched to score. Pentland converted yet again to make the score 47-7. Unfortunately Stockton had to leave the field midway through the half after aggravating a hamstring injury. The reorganisation of the backline did not deter the Dee and two more tries were scored before the game ended. Firstly, Pentland completed his hat-trick when he burst through and evaded several defenders before scoring by the posts. Finally, when a kick to touch was kept in by the service winger the ball was snaffled up by the ever-alert Onstwedder who then ran in to score. Pentland converted to take the score to 59-7. In the very last play of the game Dee hooker Ioasa suffered a nasty knee injury and had to be helped off the field as the referee blew for full time. Matthew Pentland was the only contender for man of the match this week with his three tries and 7 conversions. This was a good performance by the Dee but the post- match concerns were obviously all about the lengthening injury list as we approach the Gordon West Cup Final on the 15th March at the Kinsgspan Stadium, k.o. 2.30pm. Information on Bus transport and Tickets cane be found on our social media channels.