1st XV
Matches
Sat 28 Nov 2015
Letterkenny RFC
1st XV
Tries: S Deery, C Sheridan (2), M FoyConversions: R Mortimer (3)
26
0
STRABANE RFC
Letterkenny 1st xv v Strabane 1st xv

Letterkenny 1st xv v Strabane 1st xv

Martin Mortimer1 Dec 2015 - 11:56
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Strabane Blown Away on a Windy Day

Letterkenny welcomed their nearest neighbours Strabane to a wet and windswept Dave Gallaher Park on Saturday afternoon. Stand in captain Michael Foy elected to play against the elements in the first half and Letterkenny defended well in the opening period and kicked intelligently to bring play into the Strabane half. Strong carries in the forwards, particularly by Chris Digimas and Conor Dunleavy took play close to the try line. Sean Deery took an excellent line off scrum half Conall Sheridan to crash over for the opening try converted by Ryan Mortimer.

Letterkenny kept the visiting defence busy with strong runs from John Anthony McFadden and James-Lee McLaughlin. Strabane attempted to kick for position but Letterkennys back three of Evin Walsh, Stephen Devine and Colm McNicholl dealt with the threats with confidence and ran back the kicks with interest. Midway through the first half Strabane had a sustained period of pressure inside the Letterkenny 22 but the home defence was disciplined and managed to hold firm with Mortimer producing the hit of the day to help regain possession.

Following a kick upfield Letterkenny established good field position near the Strabane try line and Sheridan was rewarded for his work rate when he managed to ground his charge down of the attempted clearance to extend Letterkenny’s lead. The try was unconverted in the difficult conditions.

The visitors struggled to get out of their own half and Mortimer danced around several would be tacklers in his own half before breaking up the centre of the pitch. Foy was in support to continue the move and had just about enough left in the tank to reach the line for Letterkenny’s third try which was converted by Mortimer to leave the half-time score 19-0.

Mortimer couldn’t continue in the second half so McNicholl stepped into the 10 role and soon had Strabane pinned down inside the 22. The raw conditions were having an effect on the continuity of the game with many handling errors from both sides. Letterkenny looked fully in control of the game as the visitors struggled to get out of their half. Roger McLaughlin had to shift into the back line to cover John Anthony McFadden who left with an injury and found himself busy returning kicks to good effect.

With the return of Mortimer to the field and an injury to a Strabane player both sides were now operating with 14 players. Eventually the breakthrough was made when Sheridan made it to the line for his second try with a snipe around the fringe of a ruck a few meters out. The fourth try of the day was converted by Mortimer. The hard work had been done previously when the visitors were having trouble coping with the charges of Dunleavy and both McLaughlins which was opening up space in the defensive line.

Strabane, to their credit, didn’t lie down and tried to get something out of the game but solid home defence and great work at the breakdown by flanker Ladi Yuno turned the ball over repeatedly and Mortimer, McNicholl and Sheridan pegged Strabane back with intelligent kicks into space. No-one was disappointed to hear the referee blow for full time and the Letterkenny players left the field content with a bonus point win in a game they controlled from start to finish.

Next week sees the start of the second half of the league fixtures and Belfast High School Former Pupils will be the visitors to Dave Gallaher Park. Letterkenny lost heavily to BHSFP in the first league game of the season but have improved week on week since then. Next weeks game should be a useful indicator of how much progress has been made by this young group of players in the season to date.
Training continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8.30pm. All are welcome

Match details

Match date

Sat 28 Nov 2015

Kickoff

14:30
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Senior Rugby Sponsor - McCafferty's Bar,
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Shirt Sponsor - Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre