1st XV v UL Bohemians (A) 7.11.15
UL Bohemians RFC V St Mary’s College RFC
24 27
Ulster Bank AIL Division 1B
Annacotty
Saturday 7th November 2015.
Overall
After last week’s overall high quality, determined performance, St Marys were looking for consistency and towards long-term continuity. This performance fell somewhat short of that target. To come to Limerick and return home with a winning four tries, five points victory can never be considered bad. Of course, it is commendable and valuable; however, there was lethargy about the actual performance that was disappointing. Now and then, we showed that ability and sparked into life. On a dry windy afternoon, the pack was in control, the scrum, led by skipper, Rob Sweeney, was comprehensively dominant; and overall the team seemed to have the capability to push on at any time, yet never did, against an obdurate opposition.
Even individually, there were no rattling performances. The halfbacks again showed quality and Sean Kearns at outhalf, kicked excellently, with one arcing 70-metre missile leading to the winning try. Since the season first peeped open its innocent, excited eyes, Sean has been our most valuable player, contributing most points and today added seven to his tally, he was my MoM.
It was good to see the estimable Richard Sweeney back from injury and even after several weeks off, he lasted the entire game and contributed well to it. It must be admitted that fortune favoured us today (fortune favours the brave, it is said), and some good luck is required by any team hoping to win a league over 18 games. We are still top of the league; with Chops, we’re TOPS and we can push on from here. Admittedly, our closest rivals all won today, but if we keep winning, we will keep winning!
Next game, we play Old Wesley, on Saturday 28th, it will also be our Christmas lunch and we must win that game; there is confidence that we will. The following week we go to Belfast and then have a Christmas break, so two big games coming up. The two weeks without a game will give a chance to get back injured players and recharge the energisers.
Scoring
After eight minutes Mc Kenna made it 3 – 0 with a penalty. And a try from Rossiter converted by McKenna left it 10 – 0 on 15 minutes. On 18 minutes after a strong scrum on the UL line and several pressure drives, the ball went from right to left to Ryan O’Loughlin who skipped over, and Sean converted from far out against the strong wind. 10 – 7. On 22 minutes, McKenna made it 13 – 7 and Sean added a penalty on 25 minutes, 13 – 10. It was 16 – 10 on 31 and on 42 minutes, a scrum on the UL line saw Barry O’Flanagan use the scrum tilt to pick and smartly smash over; again, from far out into the wind, Sean made it 16 – 17 at half time.
The second half was three minutes old when Marys were caught cold for Aherne to run in a try, as UL once more took the lead, 21 – 17. A fine try on 49 minutes, conjured by a 35 metres break by Robbie Glynn, then Ryan O’Loughlin, the ball was then recycled and Marcus O’Driscoll sent a floated, skip pass to the wing where flying David Fanagan, secured the ball and zipped in; 21 -22. Mc Kenna restored the lead 24 – 22, before that try from Sean’s long kick to the right corner. Terry Kennedy fairly singed the grass as he left the defence floundering, scooped the ball and dived over. It finished 24 – 27; with a few anxious Marys’ minutes at the end as UL tried hard to get back.
See you all on 28th.
D O’Brien
The Squad (Rolling substitutions)
15 R Crotty, 14 T Kennedy, 13 M O’Driscoll, 12 I Dineen,11 R O’Loughlin, 10 S Kearns, 9 R Glynn, 8 K Sheahan, 7 B O’Flanagan, 6 Richard Sweeney, 5 M Fallon, 4 C Ruddock 3 Rob Sweeney (Capt.), 2 T O’Reilly, 1 B McGovern, S O’Brien , E Ferron, D Aspil, I Cullinane, D Fanagan