05.02.2011 J5 XV v Tallaght (H)

05/02/201112:00pmLeagueSt. Marys J5 XV14 – 5TallaghtHome

St Marys College RFC VS Tallaght RFC

Templeville Road, Kickoff 11am

There was a top of the table clash on offer at a rain swept Templeville Road on Saturday morning. The League leaders St Marys took on the second placed team Tallaght. St Marys were coming into this game off the back of their first loss of the season away to Clontarf last week and Tallaght where in a buoyant mood after edging out Clondalkin last weekend. Tallaght got off to a good start and seemed to handle the tough under foot conditions with Marys struggling to get a handle on the game. Tallaght enjoyed some time in the Marys half and would have been in for an early try only for some good defence by St Marys. St Marys slowly got into the game and enjoyed some good possession and started building some phases. This pressure finally paid off with St Marys getting a rolling maul going from just inside the Tallaght 22 and carried this all the way over the line with the big running number 8  Paul Travers being credited for the try. Gary Crawford added on the 2 points from a difficult angle.  St Mary’s confidence was now sky high and they soon went over the white wash again. After putting together a number of good phases and good going forward ball the impressive David Browne broke from the back of the ruck to go over for the try leaving Gary Crawford the easy task of adding on 2 points. After this the game became more open and Tallaght started to get on top of St Marys but due to mistakes plus good defensive where not able to convert this pressure in to scores and  St Marys went in at half time with  a 14 point lead. The conditions started to get worse in the second half and a wind started to blow in the favour of Tallaght, with this wind behind them Tallaght got on top of Marys at the break down. With Tallaght now camped in St Marys 22 the pressure finally paid off with Tallaght going over for a try which they failed to convert leaving the score St Marys 14 Tallaght 5. Tallaght now were in the ascendancy and had Marys under big pressure. This consistent pressure took its toll on Marys with there inspirational number 8 Paul Travers and their reliable full back Danny McEvoy having to go off due to injury. St Marys seemed to rally back with the loss of these players and started to take the game to Tallaght once again and should have converted this pressure into points only for some handling errors. With 10 minutes to go Paul Travers resumed his position at number 8 and this seemed to sure up the Marys pack. Tallaght had the better of the last few minutes but Marys defence stood tall to deny Tallaght a losing bonus point. St Marys finally ran out winner on a score line of St Marys 14 Tallaght 5. St Marys consolidated their possession at the top of the table. St Marys now welcome the visit of Bectitive Rangers next Saturday to Templeville Road.

St Marys College Team.

1 Brian Murphy
2 Jody Brooks
3 Steve Walkin
4 David Browne
5 Eamonn Walsh
6 Anthony O’Hanlon(Capt)
7 James Hynes
8 Paul Travers
9 Kieran Morrissey
10 Adrian Malone
11 David Sheedy
12 Mick Daly
13 Gary Crawford
14 David Millard
15 Daniel McEvoy

Subs: Tony Makondo, Hugh Lyons, Maurice Davin, Caolan Reid, Marco Pietri.