Reading an 80 point differential in the scoreline would lead to a reasonable assumption that one team were vastly superior to the other or perhaps that the visiting team had lost several players through injury or wayward sat nav directions. On Saturday at John Hunter Park the young Letterkenny side received a lesson in basic rugby by a well drilled and skilful but equally youthful Limavady side. Both sides finished with 15 players and the Roesiders weren’t vastly superior to their opposite numbers in an individual sense but they did play with a cohesion and intensity that was the difference in the sides.
From the start Letterkenny were guilty of affording their hosts far too much respect and with room to function Limavady ran hard to good effect. The first scrum to Letterkenny was just outside their own 22 and they were driven off their own ball with the number 8 picking the ball and ran a diagonal line almost to the posts before being scragged to the ground. Ball was quickly recycled and despite an obvious knock-on by the winger the first try of the afternoon was awarded. Letterkenny continued to pay the price for standing off their opponents and for falling off tackles when Limavady added two more tries within the space of ten minutes.
The game was largely played in the middle part of the pitch and there were good periods of Letterkenny pressure. Ryan Mortimer kicked great field position from penalties but the Letterkenny line-out failed to fire on a number of occasions which denied the visiting team the foothold in the game that they so desperately needed. Too often these turnovers were punished and from promising Letterkenny positions Limavady were very quick to attack space and their strong running backline exploited weaknesses in the defensive structure to add to their tally of tries.
The second half brought an improvement in defensive effort from the Letterkenny team and some good showings with the ball in hand were made in particular by Gary Canning and Michael Foy. Unfortunately for the Donegal men these attacks would inevitably end with a knock-on or a soft turnover to gift possession back to Limavady. The Limavady backs continued to exploit the wide channels of the pitch from wayward kicks and turnover ball and despite some splendid individual efforts in defence from some Letterkenny players the home side managed to double their half time tally.
Letterkenny are on the road again this Saturday to face a useful UUC side with a good pack and out-half. Lessons will have to be learnt from last Saturdays experience and a more robust and tighter defensive performance will be required for a competitive challenge for the two points on offer.
Training continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7.00-8.30 pm. All welcome.