J2 XV v Terenure (A) – 07.12.2019

On Saturday the J2s had their penultimate match this side of Christmas. The team were dealt a crushing blow in the weeks leading up to the match when Director of J2 Rugby and Joe Schmidt’s understudy Gavin “Not Nigel” Thornberry told the lads he couldn’t make it. Thankfully Ronda, Lenzo Harry were dedicated enough to show up for this week’s match vs Terenure in Lakelands so the show went on. Unfortunately Lenzo injured himself about a month ago so walking isn’t easy – just imagine how the Penguin in Batman walks and you have an idea of what the Lenzo Shuffle looks like.

After a sluggish start Mary’s were caught off guard and 10 minutes in Nure had a converted try. 5 minutes after this Nure had a man in the bin for an intentional knock down. 5 minutes later Mary’s also had a man shown a yellow. McGov tackled his opponent so well the referee decided that it was too good of a tackle – so off to the bin went McGov. It seemed the referee thought that there was a prize at the end of the season for most yellows awarded as this trend continued for the match. 

At the 30 minute mark Andy McCarthy made his triumphant return from “an exam” – yeah we don’t believe it either. After presumably rolling out of bed still smelling of tequila and regret, Andy put on his Mary’s shorts, 1 Mary’s sock and some other sock he found in the back of his drawer. He was clearly still hammered because he seemed to think he was playing for the Barbarians. However, his impact was huge because a minute after he came on, McGov scored a phenomenal try with help from a strong break from Captain Fionan right beside the posts – clearly as a direct result of the energy Andy brought onto the pitch with him. 

Converted by El General James Bourke. 7-7.

Nure came back early in the 2nd half and after some easy mistakes scored a try in what must have been the longest try zone in history. 12-7. Shortly after, the man who still holds the record for most yellow cards at U20s level, Sean D recieved his first at J2 level. We would to congratulate Sean on this achievement and we hope he can match his U20s record. An intercept / tackle off the ball led to another try for the Nure men despite Mary’s protests. 19-7 to the home side. A penalty was given after 10 minutes as Mary’s continued to dominate the scrums, and Bourkie, in his French accent, put the ball between the posts. 19-10.

55 minutes gone, and another bin for Nure. Another kick for Bourkie left it 19-13. Nure then grabbed another try to leave it 26-13. After 76 minutes, Nure received yet another yellow – the referee not afraid to hand them out. At all.

With 1 minute left to go, Morgan Mooney crashed through the Nure defence and scored a great try to leave the score 26-18. Unfortunately, kicking from the sideline with winds that would excite and possibly arouse Theresa Mannion, Bourkie sent it just wide and Mary’s missed out on a losing bonus. Unfortunately Mary’s just couldn’t get the scores required and Nure handed Mary’s their 2nd loss of the season.

Mary’s still have 2 games in hand with their final game of the season against Navan this Sunday, December 15th at home in Templeville Road at 2.30pm. Get down to Mary’s and cheer the lads on!