2nd XV Donaghadee Report

Monday, 21 September 2009 15:15

Academy 2nds V Donaghadee 2nds   (19-Sept-09)

Academy got there first home fixture of to a perfect start,  outhalf P.Moffett took the kickoff, wing forward P.Ross tapped the ball back, then three rucks later fullback G.Braiden broke through to score under the posts (with Donaghadee yet to touch the ball)
(7-0,  1-min).
Whilst Academy were dominant in the scrum, and competed well in the lineout, all too often they were turned over in the tight, hence it tooks another 25 mins before the second score. The ball was fed wide from a ruck, G.Braiden combined with No.8 K.Dobbin, who in turn fed for centre S.Stewart to score (14-0, 26-mins).
Academy kept up the pressure, and when Donaghadee backs dropped the ball, winger G.Davis kicked ahead, K.Dobbin picked up the loose ball and fed inside for S.Stewart to score his second try (21-0,  35-mins).
Donaghadee scored late in the half, as Academy missed/dropped off tackles, they ran the ball in from the 10m line (21-5,  38-mins).
Academy again claimed the restart, S.Stewart broke though the centre, but failed to convert a 2v1 chance to end the half (21-5,  halftime).

Similar to last week, as the opposition tired in the second half, Academy scored a succession of unanswered trys,
G.Braiden broke blind from a ruck from 35m (28-5,  44 mins),
P.Moffett broke through the centre (35-5,  46 mins),
P.Ross in support of another P.Moffett break (42-5,  49-mins),
A.Eggleton rounded the defence (49-5,  51-mins)
P.Moffett broke through the centre again (56-5,  69-mins)
A.Eggleton through the centre (63-5,  71-mins)
The success of the second half was only marred by G.Dobbin being yellow carded after being sighted by one of the two official touch judges (78-mins).
(63-5 fulltime).

Another good team performance, but the we cannot rely on the opposition running out of steam every week, particularly if we allow our own numbers at training to start to dwindle.

The Observer.