City of Derry fall to Ulster derby defeat against Bangor

City of Derry 7, Bangor 14

The Division 2C League storm clouds are gathering over Judges Road following an Ulster derby defeat to Bangor that plunges City of Derry into a battle for their All Ireland status.

One of only two 2C games to survive Storm Dennis, the Co. Down's club's visit was billed as a season definer. Victory and the possibility of a late charge for fourth was on the cards. Defeat though and protecting AIL was on the horizon for whichever team came out on the wrong side of the scoreline.

With the stakes that high, the inclement weather was the last thing Derry needed to see against arguably the best pack in the league. Throw in the absence of prop Sam Duffy which forced Dutch international back row Quermy Warmerdam into an unfamiliar tight-head role and Paul O'Kane's men were facing a huge battle up front.

Indeed, it was the battle thta defined the game and Derry never quite got to grips with it.

Bangor's big, physical pack was manna from heaven for the conditions, they won the game for their side though Derry's cause wasn't helped by some questionable decisions at the breakdown. The home side were giving away a considerable weight advantage in the scrum and it showed. The visitor's game-plan was simple and rendered their backline almost spectators at times but it was hugely effective.

Yet for all Bangor's dominance up front, Derry's decision making in an improved second half display ultimately cost them the chance to take something from the game. Too often the ball was retained a fraction too long with men over, or impatience to force a try cost them invaluable field position which, in the conditions, was crucial.

All the points were scored in a Bangor dominated first 40 minutes in which only superb home defence stopped the Co. Down side turning around with a more emphatic interval lead.

Bangor started against a fierce wind that was changeable at best but pinned Derry inside the home '22'. Derry held out for five minutes but eventually the visitors pressure told as front row Phil Whyte forced his way over amid a crowd of bodies. With out-half Rhys Larmour converting, Bangor had the perfect start but it didn't last long.

Within 60 seconds of Larmour's kick, Alex McDonnell was doing likewise at the opposite end of the pitch after an equalising try that owed everything to David Ferguson tenacious work in midfield.

Ferguson broke the Bangor lines, making good ground through the midfield and when he was eventually stopped he had the perfect support in the form of Simon Logue. Logue had plenty of work to do but made light of the Bangor cover, side-stepping two tackles to run in and around to the posts and make McDonnell's conversion a formality.

It was quality amid the mud fest but normal service resumed soon after as Bangor were back battering the Derry line. Derry's defence was admirable but the inability to clear their lines or gain parity at the scrum came back to haunt them.

Bangor had been threatening and already won a number of scrum penalty yards from the Derry line when referee, Keane Davison, decided he had seen enough and awarded Bangor the penalty scrum.

It was game's final score. As the picthy deteriorated after half-time so did the quality. Derry's second half display was much improved and they had their chances though so did Bangor who, more than once, set up camp on the home line only to be repelled by some excellent defence.

A disappointing Derry display was summed up in the game's final act. A high tackle on Richard Baird allowed the opportunity to kick to the corner but a lack of clarity at line-out gifted Bangor back the ball and the clearing kick signalled the end of a frustrating afternoon for O'Kane's team.

Bangor's celebrations highlighted the importance of the win and there was little consolation in the losing bonus point. With Bruff securing a losing bonus point themselves in the divisions only other games, an 8-3 defeat at Sunday's Well, Derry remain second bottom and next week's encounter against Tullamore just became even more important.

City of Derry: James Hamilton, David Ferguson, Quermy Wamerdam, Gerard Doherty, Criag Huey, Stephen Corr, Tiernan Thornton, Richard Baird, Ricardo Schneider, Alex McDonnell, Thomas Cole, Dennis Posternak, David Graham, Callum O'Hagan, Simon Logue. (Replacements) Ross Harkin, Barry Laverty, Stephen Kelly, Neil Burns, David Lapsely.

Bangor RFC: Phil Whyte, Andrew Shaw, JP Leary, Craig Burton, Michael Ferguson, David Bradford, Jamie Clegg, Mike Weir, Alistair Lockhart, Rhys Larmour, Connor Scallon, Zack Kerr, Mark Widdowson, Nathan Graham, Logan Norman. (Replacements) Even Welland, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Smyth, Max Preston, Ryan Young.

Referee: Keane Davison