MICHAEL WILSON reports from Judges Road

Photograph: JOE BOLAND

Following their three-week sabbatical since sending current Leinster leaders, Seapoint, crashing out of the competition, the locals this time turned their attentions to the Dublin club’s closest league rivals and while the opposition was different, the outcome was the same.

Led by a virtuoso performance from hat-trick hero Peter Henderson at full-back and two-try Sam McAuley at hooker, the locals completely over-ran the visitors with Richard McCarter’s superb kicking never allowing Boyne a foothold in the game.

The Judges Road men can now look forward to their ‘make or break’ Ulster Qualifying League clash with Armagh on December 17th with renewed optimism after a performance which had coach Bevan Lynch full of praise for his players.

“We were pleased with Saturday. A lot of people had talked about the fact we had three weeks without a game but the break actually gave us time to work on things we needed to for Boyne and the other important games we’ve got coming up,” explained Lynch.

“We were pleased at how the players kept their discipline in difficult conditions. The penalty count must have been 20-3 in our favour and we were playing all the rugby.

“Boyne are a good side. They are one of the top three Junior sides in Leinster so that victory sends a signal out to any Leinster team which may come here if we managed to make the play-offs at the end of the season.”

The home side got off to the perfect start when, with only three minutes on the clock, superb support play from McAuley allowed him to finish off an excellent Chris Cooper break that had involved Henderson and McCarter, the latter converting for a 7-0 lead.

Predictions of an easy day at the office looked wide of the mark though when Boyne captain Ian O’Reilly charged down Andrew Semple’s attempted clearance to go over in the corner for an unconverted try on ten minutes.

With both side sides playing an open, expansive game in the difficult conditions it was surprising the tie would wait until six minutes from half-time for its next score and a three minute spell that would dictate the remainder of the game.

First, a lovely Semple kick through forced a line-out five metres from the Boyne line which allowed Derry the opportunity to force McAuley over for his second try of the game.

McCarter was unlucky with his conversion but he was instrumental three minutes later when a quick penalty eventually found its way to Ryan Campbell who stormed over. With McCarter this time converting, suddenly a match which had previously little in it looked decidedly one-sided as Derry closed the half 19-5 in front.

One-way Traffic

The second period was an all together easier affair for the locals as Henderson grabbed the first of his ‘five-pointers’ on 54 minutes after play was switched wide from a five-metre scrum.