Royal School Dungannon produced an impressive second half performance to win this local derby against Omagh Academy by 22 points to 15 on  Saturday morning.

Unfortunately due to roadworks on the A4 and a bit of a SatNav mix up I missed the opening quarter and by the time I arrived the score was Omagh 3 Dungannon 5 with Ashley McIlwaine slotting over a penalty for the home side and Peter Nelson scoring an unconverted try for Dungannon.

As I arrived at the blustery playing fields at Omagh the Academy were pressurising the visitors line and within minutes second row Jony Sproule barged his way over the line for a try after good work by captain Gary Sherrard. McIlwaine added the conversion giving the home side a 10 – 5 lead which they maintained until half time.

Turning round with the strong wind now behind them Dungannon hit back early in the second half with No. 8 Martin blasting his way to the line with a powerful run. The try went unconverted leaving the match tied at 10 – 10.

Omagh managed to work their way out of their own half after good work by their forwards and following a period of sustained pressure on the Dungannon line centre Ryan Mitchell found space out wide to go over for an unconverted try giving the home side a 15 – 10 lead.

Unfortunately for the home side they tried to sit on their lead an chose to kick away possession but with the strong wind and Dungannon’s speedy back three running the ball back at every opportunity Omagh soon found themselves defending their own line.

After a series of close calls Dungannon’s impressive Peter Nelson found his way to the line for his second try, converted by Davidson, and followed it up minutes later with his hat-trick to give the visitors a deserved win with the final score reading Omagh Academy 15 Royal School Dungannon 22.

Omagh Academy: D Clarke, R Hemphill, J Kelso, J Sproule, B Knox, A Longwell, H Gibson, G Sherrard, M Gibson, A McIlwaine, A Henry, D Barr, R Mitchell, M Deazley, L Warnock.

Dungannon Royal Grammar: J McKee, A Boyle, A Clingan, s Rogers, W Graham, M Black, M Wright, D Martin, G Wong, P Nelson, J Finlay, J McCammon, D Davidson, J Condy, R McClean, C Farrell.