1st XV v Blackrock (A) by D. O’Brien – 19.04.2008
Blackrock College RFC V St Mary’s College RFC
49 27
Stradbrook Road
AIL
19th April 2008.
The Game
With a number of senior players, including the captain Gareth Logan, out with injury this game gave the coaches an opportunity to try new combinations and to allow freedom of expression to the players. And the game was only three minutes old when such expression was clearly to be seen. Hugh Hogan broke from a lineout cleverly made good progress and linked with supporting Matt D’Arcy who completed the work by slipping inside two players and accelerating in for a fine try which Frank Lynch, playing at 15 converted.
Just five minutes later with the game in open flowing mode, Mark Sexton made an incision showed his pace and again Matt Darcy was available to complete the job. Matt has played every game, but one, during the past two seasons and no one has done more than he for the St Marys’ cause, he has pass, pace a strong tackle and immense bravery and is a very fine young player and person. He may now be taking a break from the club game to join the professional game elsewhere and with great gratitude we must all wish him well and hope he will return to us again. On the day he also probably just shaded Matt Duggan as St Marys’ man of the match. This was good start to the game and showed when we wish we can play very attractive rugby.
Unfortunately, after 12 minutes some weak tackling allowed Rock get their first converted try and they added two penalties, through impressive Fionn Carr, who was late in the game injured and carried off with a suspected fibula break, to bring the score to 13 – 14, and unfortunately then Steve Bradshaw went over on his ankle and had to leave the field. He was missed, particularly in the lineout, although Louis Bourke, who came on, is a very useful utility backrow forward and played really well. The ever willing Paul Nash went into the row. Rock also lost Des Dillon with a dislocated elbow. On 30 minutes Palle Nonu, using his strength once again, robbed a ball on our 22 and then Darragh Fanning made good ground, after the tackle, the ball was cleared back to Matt Duggan who took it at pace sucked in the defence and when the ball came out to Michael Skelton he took a sharp line to score a good try. Rock added another penalty on 33 minutes so at half time it was 16 – 19 and everyone was enjoying the game, players and spectators.
Second Half:-
The pace and flavour of the game continued in the second half and helped to keep everyone warm on a windy cold day, it was five minutes of the second half when Rock, now playing against the wind, again scored with a nicely worked try to go ahead 23 – 19. Frank put us up close with a penalty on 10 minutes but two tries to Rock on 28 and 35 minutes left the score at 35 – 22, the loose nature of the game contributing. Kevin Gallivan an under 20 player of fine promise came on for his senior debut and benefited greatly by the experience, we benefited (sort of) from his “rapping” ability after the game. With 25 minutes gone we won a lineout from a penalty to the corner and a maul ensued which was making a very slow progression, then one, then two, then four backs joined in, in Gatland-Connacht style and heave after heave inched us closer and closer and over the line and it was 35 – 27. However, Rock scored twice more with converted tries and so the final score was 49 – 27. We got one point for a four try bonus. I suppose it would be hard to enthuse about this game as it was very loose and unstructured, leaving lots of gaps in mid field and around the edges, but it was a last game with little at stake. It must be noted that Frank Lynch who so ably stepped into the 10 slot this season is going to England to live for the moment so will not be with us next season. Frank will be a great loss to us having been a fine senior squad player for several years now after three years on the U20s and he has made a strong contribution to our club, we all wish him the very best.
After thoughts
We can be happy enough with our progress and at an important time from mid January to mid February we got a run of three vital home wins against Greystones, Old Belvedere and Lansdowne, which secured our place in 1st division next season; earlier good wins over Shannon and Dungannon at home and Ballymena away ensured a satisfactory season. We must be particularly happy with our newcomers who performed very well and justified their recruitment and be especially pleased with our captain Gareth Logan. Logie was a really fine captain involving himself in all aspects of club life, off and on the field, bravely playing and leading when many others would have been in the sick bay, for he has suffered with chronic back, shoulder and neck problems all season yet he never complained and performed to the highest standard, he can be proud of himself as we are of him too.
Also, we must be most grateful to the coaches, Steve, Peter and Ciaran who plotted, planned and brought along the team with them, often contending with many injuries making life difficult. Their dedication and long hours of video analysis, off and on pitch interaction with the players and organisational work, often leading to difficult sleepless nights is hardly appreciated, but they really do deserve our greatest respect and gratitude. Behind them and vital to their ability to do these things was the management team of Brian, Peter and Terry, ever organising, waiting, fetching and bringing. A great big thank you is due to them.
There are areas that need strengthening and these will be addressed no doubt in the coming weeks and months, so that we can look forward with enthusiasm and well founded hope to next season.
Steven Hennessy,
By now most will be aware that Steve has decided to move away from the senior side and unselfishly use his great expertise at U 20 level next season. Of course he has had success and experience before with the U20s and will be a major draw for young players thinking of joining our club. He has great ability to nurture players and develop their best talents. Remember Steve had an illustrious career as a staunch St Marys’ player, being a member of a LSC winning side in 1987 and captaining the club in 1989-90. He was one of our greatest ever goal kickers. Besides his coaching success at U20 level he also coached the senior side in the 90s and twice brought the club to the semi finals of the AIL Division 1. When we were demoted to Division 2 in 2003-04, it was Steve the club turned to, he took up the challenge and, with Peter Smyth, he brought us straight back up the following season and has since continued to develop and guide the squad. We really cannot ever thank Steve enough for what he has done so far for the club; I say so far deliberately for he has so much more to give in many ways and he will.
Last Word
Next Friday we have the President’s J1 cup final against Clontarf, so do come along and support the team.
Finally, with the season soon coming to an end, on behalf of those who made out reports of the various games each week over the season I would like to thank you for bearing with us and giving us feed back, essential to our trying to improve. A special word of thanks must go to Keith Mc Carthy for all his work for Rynner with the Emails during the season.
DO’Brien.
Team 15 F Lynch, 14 C Hogan (R Doherty), 13 M Sexton, 12 P Nonu, 11 D Fanning, 10 M Skelton, 9 M D’Arcy, 8 H Hogan, 7 B O’Flanagan (K Gallivan), 6 P Nash, 5 S Bradshaw (L Bourke), 4 F O’Sullivan, 3 Rob Sweeney, 2 M Crockett, 1 M Duggan.