1st XV v Lansdowne (H) by D. O’Brien – 27.10.2017
St Mary’s College RFC V Lansdowne FC
7 33
- AIL Division 1 A
Templeville Road,
Friday 27th October 2017.
Overall
For 30 minutes St Marys produced a striking symphony of exhilarating, electric rugby. Perpetua mobile. There were uploads at the rucks, downloads at the lineouts and offloads in the tackles. There were 15 blue hornets, hovering, turning, targeting and tearing through. The coaches Peter and Steve had their team in hum mode. All of this was accompanied by pyrotechnic salvos from local Halloween revellers. During that time, Lansdowne, with a team to admire, only visited Marys’ half three times. Any rugby person could only admire this rugby rhapsody. During that period too, an artistic try was scored and converted. Alas, the second half saw Marys fade under the sheer weight and power of a big, balanced Lansdowne squad.
Not that the home players were overpowered, without extreme, courageous resistance. And indeed there were chances crafted right to the end. It would be wrong not to acknowledge Lansdowne’s prowess. Our inspirational captain’s father, Mike Ruddock and our former AIL medal winning outhalf Mark McHugh have moulded a formidable ensemble, with an irresistible maul and multiple hard runners.
Just before kick-off, the home side lost the previous AIL game’s SoftCo MoM, Sean Kearns to a hamstring strain. David Fanagan, recovering from a knee injury, came on at 15 and was back in his impressive stride, right away. In fact there was a total team response to the commendable leadership of captain, Rudds. Besides the scintillating running and try scoring, Tim Maupin, back from his flight of the Eagle adventure, young Conor (Deano-2) Dean radiated class. Additionally, there was joy in the ranks to have high class Marcus O’Driscoll, back after prolonged injury. However, it was the tenacity, bravery and adventure of Nick McCarthy that gave him the SoftCo MoM award. From kick-off, he tore into action and never stopped nor yielded until battered, he left the field near the end of the game. He won ball, sometimes on his own line, he tackled unerringly and carried and supported throughout.
The Happening
This game deserved a much better attendance, but those who defied the understandable, Friday rugby resistance and turned up will have been well rewarded. Even before the game there was an energy in the air and an anticipation in the shifting souls present.
Kick-off response was almost nuclear, as the home team, playing towards the Road end, swarmed forward, at Mk1, unerringly handling, and distributing with a nice spatial awareness. After three minutes incessant attack, a ball came to Deano-2, 35 metres out on the clubhouse side, he computed his options and saw big Tim hovering, he then, with the same precision as he had done at the Bowl, launched a perfect ball from his foot, Tim judged the ball in the air exactly, beat the defender to it and then rocketed into action. He went inside one defender, outside another and zipped through another to score. Deano converted. We remained 7-0 and playing superlatively until a slight mix up on 31 minutes gave Lansdowne the opportunity to launch an attack, and they took it enthusiastically and well, and made it 7 – 7. It so ended the half.
In the second half, the kinesis changed and as the heavy burden of the Lansdowne avoirdupois told more and more. It was not possible to play away from the pack, as Lansdowne sucked in defenders and swallowed up rucks and mauls. The defence of Marys on the line for 9 minutes and uncountable phases, was heroic, but then Lansdowne ran ball wide, a quick ruck gave their scrumhalf the opportunity to score in Carvill corner. Appeals for a knock-on were denied and it was 7 -12. Although Marys cracked not, Lansdowne scored again in the 67th and 72nd minutes. Nigh on full time, Darren Moroney got over, but was called back for a forward pass. Marys ran it wide again, but gave away an intercept, Lansdowne said thank you and brought the score to 7 -33, and the referee said good night.
Reflections
It is probable that few other club teams would have resisted the Marys’ surge tonight and that is credit to Lansdowne. They are worthy leaders of AIL Division 1A.
Although we do not have the heavyweights, we have a compact squad with many highly motivated team players, some with exceptional skills (note not clichéd, skill-sets). There are many battles ahead and although everyone at Templeville Road was very disappointed tonight, there is a deep belief that we will progress. Having leaders like Marcus back, also Mark, and others on the way, (Hugo, David, Paddy, Robbie, Cathal, Ryano, Sean, Hugh, Jack, Mathew, and possibly we shall get Terry, Caelan and even Jordan on occasion.
Our first priority must be to concentrate on next week’s trip to Tom Clifford Park to play Young Munster. Young Munster have been traditional strong rivals and we shall have to play to the extremes to beat them. You will have noted before, and the players confirm how much the supporters’ loud presence makes. This is a vital stage of the league and we must make a special effort. No doubt the enthusiastic Joyce and Eileen shall be arranging a coach.
D O’Brien
Team (Rolling Replacements X12)
15 D Fanagan, T Maupin, 13 D Moroney, 12 M O’Driscoll, 11 C Kennedy, 10 C Dean, 9 P O’Driscoll, 8 J Dilger, 7 N McCarthy, 6 D McDonnell, 5 D O’Connor, 4 C Ruddock (Capt), 3 A Coyle, 2 R Halpin, 1 T O’Reilly, S O’Brien, B Cullinane, M Fallon, E Ferron, M Carey.