10.03.2012 J4 XV v Parkmore (A)
| 10/03/2012 | 1:00pm | Winter’s Cup | Parkmore | 18 – 22 | St. Marys J4 XV | Away |
Parkmore 18 St Marys 22
Right from the start this was a tense, hard fought affair. Parkmore were champing at the bit to tear into us and they did just that and some good early pressure saw them take the lead, 3-0, with a simple penalty after indiscipline from the away side. Shortly after this the J4 prodigal son marked his return with a trademark skip and dance down the pitch and Cunno was just stopped short of a dream comeback try. Some quick recycling got the ball to Brian “twofives” Moran who threw the dummy and cantered over to make it 3-5 with the conversion duly added pushing us to a 3-7 lead.
Parkmore where never giving up easily though and retook the lead with a soft try that we really should have dealt with, 8-7. We then scored another well worked try when quick hands in the midfield allowed winger Bam Bam to show his pace and he powered home from 40 metres out, running like a sprinter, sacrificing any regard for himself as the defence bore down on him. No one could catch him however and with the conversion from out wide just missing the target the half time score was 12-8 to Marys.
The second half was messier than the first half, indiscipline from both sides seeing the ref warning both teams after a number of handbags were thrown. Parkmore seemed to be getting a slight advantage in the decisions and a penalty and converted try saw them lead 18-11 with only 15 minutes remaining. It was time for calm heads and clear thinking as the J4’s faced their own personal hill! Ted slotted a penalty and as he lined up an equalising shot at the posts checks were being made on the rules surrounding a draw and extra time. However, the stats were not to be improved and the kick drifted agonisingly wide.
With time almost up we needed a moment of inspiration. Take a bow Ted and Bam Bam. As the ball came to twofives out wide on the 22, Ted looked up and delivered a pin point cross field kick to the waiting Bam Bam who’d ran with the intensity of a hurricane, flying onto the ball and crashing over to much celebration. The conversion was vital and meant Parkmore needed a try to win it. Try as they might the Marys defence held strong and while another ref may have given a try as they seemed to cross the line toward the end it was not to be on this occasion and we held on for the victory. A win is a win and whether it’s by 100 points or 1 point it doesn’t matter in the cup so we take it and move on to face Terenure J4’s in Lakelands on the 24th March.