After an excellent victory against Ballynahinch the previous Saturday at Stevenson Park, Dungannon 2nd XV travelled to Barban Hill, Dromore on Saturday for a top of the table clash with Dromore 2Nd XV.

Playing with some help from a stiff but swirling breeze, Dungannon began strongly immediately establishing territorial advantage in the Dromore 22 and putting pressure on the Dromore line, and after a well-executed lineout and driving maul, Captain Ryan Abernethy crashed over for a try wide out on the right hand side of the posts to give the men in blue and white an early lead. Perry’s conversion into the cross-wind dropped just short of the posts. Unfortunately soon after the re-start Dungannon lost Ben Connolly to an ankle injury. Excellent defence by the forward pack, and in midfield, against a Dromore line out on the Dungannon 5m line resulted in a turnover and a relieving kick to the halfway line. After 15 minutes Dungannon put together several phases of play in and around the Dromore 22 with the forwards looking dominant, but a knock on turned over possession and from the ensuing scrum, a great piece of play by the Dromore three-quarter line and a delicate chip ahead almost resulted in a Dromore try. After 20 minutes a skilful kick by Dungannon outhalf Aaron Perry pinned Dromore back to their own 5m line. From the lineout Dromore knocked on handing possession back to Dungannon with an attacking scrum in front of the Dromore posts. Dungannon capitalised splendidly on the opportunity with a lovely break by full back Charlie Conroy splitting the Dromore defence before linking with winger Jack Kennedy who scored. Perry landed an excellent conversion to give the Stevenson Park men a deserved 12-0 lead after 25 minutes. Back came Dromore with a series of threatening attacks. Former Harlequins outside half Lee Steenson was the principal attacking threat and after 30 minutes he cut open Dungannon’s defence on the 22 with some nifty footwork, and put his outside centre away to score at the posts. Steenson then added the conversion to make it 12-7 after 35 minutes. From the restart Dungannon again attacked deep into Dromore territory with the forwards seemingly dominant, and after series of penalties was conceded by Dromore and some good phases of play of attacking play by Dungannon, Matthew Maguire dived over for Dungannon’s third score. The conversion was missed leaving the half time score 17-7 to Dungannon.

The second half began with renewed effort from Dromore resulting in Dungannon being pinned in their own 22. Dogged Dungannon resistance in the form of some excellent tackling and clearance kicks by Johnny Russell, making his first start of the season at scrum half, repelled several Dromore attacks. However, another slick handling move by the Dromore three-quarter line unlocked the Dungannon defence enabling the Dromore left wing to touch down in the corner. Steenson then landed an excellent touchline conversion to leave the match delicately poised at 17-14 to Dungannon after 50 minutes. With Scott Glackin replacing Jonny Russell, Dungannon won a promising attacking position with a line out on the Dromore 22. However this came to naught when the ball was rather carelessly turned over in midfield allowing Steenson to clear downfield. Dungannon battled back into the Dromore half but after several promising phases were rather harshly penalised for an offence at a breakdown on the hour mark. From the penalty Dromore kicked into the Dungannon 22, but from the line-out a knock-on again handed possession back to Dungannon with a scrum. Dromore’s scrum had been strengthened with some half time changes and this now paid a dividend as Dungannon’s 8 were driven back, and possession lost allowing the Dromore number 8 to score out wide and give Dromore the lead for the first time in the match. Steenson missed the conversion to leave the score at 19-17. Again Dungannon attacked into the Dromore half but a forward pass immediately followed by a scrum penalty enabled Steenson to once more clear his lines and push Dungannon back to their own 22. The sin-binning of a Dungannon player after 70 minutes for an adjudged late tackle compounded the difficulties for the men in blue and white, but once again, strong defence kept Dromore out and the award of a scrum penalty to the Stevenson Park men on the half-way line after 75 minutes offered another attacking opportunity. Unfortunately again Dungannon was profligate in possession - another knock on resulting in Dromore being able to close out the match with a narrow victory 19-17.

While any defeat is naturally disappointing, the Dungannon players certainly lacked nothing in commitment, and demonstrated at times, especially during the first half, the talent and potential of this side.