11.10.2008 J4 XV v Monkstown (A)

11/10/20083.00pmLeagueMonkstown0 – 28St. Marys J4 XVAway

St Mary’s College J4 V Monkstown J4
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Sydney Parade

The J4’s won their opening league encounter away to Monkstown RFC last Saturday. A depleted squad of 18 travelled to Sydney Parade to play an experienced J4 team with plenty of old heads. Mary’s started well with centre and last years skipper, Wally Moran, going over by the posts for an early 7-0 lead after Teddy slotted the conversion.
We then suffered a big setback when prop, Robert Maher went down after a tackle in serious pain. His cruciate ligament was gone, the second time he’s suffered such an injury and his match was over. We all wish him a speedy recovery especially me as I had to come out of retirement to play 60 minutes.

Prolific winger Nick Cunningham continued where he left off before his departure to Australia last season with a try to make it 14-0 at half time after Teddy kicked the extra 2 points.

Mary’s scrum had been on top all day and the Monkstown pack got a bit niggly coming up to half-time as the younger pack got on top. The second half started in a scrappy manner with the referee allowing a free for all at the breakdown and Mary’s getting sucked into playing a scrappy game with missed tackles and poor passes (sorry Tim) a plenty.

Mary’s eventually sealed the win despite a rocky performance with 2 more tries from winger Nick Cunningham in the last quarter, both of which were converted from the touchline superbly by Teddy (they were on his good side apparently!).

Next up is Unidare at home on Saturday at 1.00.

15. Paul Whyte 14. Nick Cunningham 13. Darragh O’Neill 12. Wally Moran 11. Chi-Yuen Hui (Richie Pyne) 10. Teddy Moran 9. Ross Wynne 8. Padraig Nestor 7. Tim Henderson 6. Andy McCarthy 5. Phil Conway 4. John Twomey (Jim Nolan) 3. Rob Maher (Gavin Rafferty) 2. Eamon Moran 1. Alan Godfrey

Gavin Rafferty
Manager & Reluctant emergency replacement