Donaghadee travelled to Neilsbrook Park on Saturday to play Randalstown in their final match in the Kukri Championship 2 League season. The Dee needed a four try win to give them any chance of escaping a relegation play-off. As usual there were plenty of changes to the Dee line up due to injury and unavailability. It was good to see Ewan McCracken take his place in the front row and young Ryan Butler in the back row. The back line saw Morgan Paulin at scrum half, a new centre partnership of Karl Yellop and Robbie Grant, and Johnny Moore starting on the wing. Garry Smith occupied a place on the bench and was the forty seventh player to represent the 1st XV this season. The rain started just prior to kick-off and, unfortunately, the moist conditions throughout the game had a detrimental effect on the quality of the rugby from both teams. The Dee started brightly and tried to run the ball at every opportunity but a combination of handling errors and Randalstown’s stout defence meant that the first quarter of the game was scoreless. The home side then went ahead when they scored a rather controversial try in the twenty first minute. A Dee player was forced behind his line and grounded the ball before the Randalstown player touched it down, however the referee awarded a try which was then converted. On the half hour Randalstown doubled their lead with a penalty try after the Dee collapsed a scrum ten yards from their line. The Dee continued to try and create scoring chances by taking quick taps when they were awarded penalties but were not able to find that crucial breakthrough and the half came to an end with the score 14-0 to Randalstown. With the rain still falling, the second half followed much the same pattern as the first. Handling errors by both teams resulted in a plethora of scrums which were thoroughly enjoyed by Randalstown’s forwards but did not provide much entertainment for the watching crowd. As the game entered the final quarter Randalstown scored their third try when they took advantage of an overlap and their left winger scored in the corner. The Dee, with only three players over the age of 25, continued to give one hundred percent effort and it was only in the final seconds of the game that Randalstown scored their bonus point try. The conversion was missed to leave the final score 26-0 to the home side.

The Dee now can enjoy a few weeks rest before they play a couple of matches in the Junior plate competition before they take on the runners up in League 3 in the play-off.