11.01.2014 J4 XV v Guinness (A)

11/01/20142:30pmMetro Div 6Guinness15 – 23St. Marys J4 XVAway

J4 XV 23-15 Guinness

The J4’s played their first game of 2014 on Saturday in the Iveagh Grounds against Guinness. The previous meeting of the two sides in Templeville was a tight game with the J4’s getting the win. Just like the J5’s the night before, the J4’s were also wearing their brand new jerseys!!

The opening exchanges of the game were tight. The St Mary’s team working hard in attack. Their hard work paid off after 11 minutes with a penalty which Dave Daly converted. 3-0. On 17 minutes they got another penalty which Daly again converted. 6-0. 21 minutes in after some great attacking play prop Jamie MacRae took on the ball in the Guinness 22. He handed off a few tacklers and went over for the try. Some great play. Daly got the conversion. 13-0. As the half wore on it continued to be a tough battle. Both teams defending hard. With 4 minutes to go before half time, Caolan Smith got the ball on his wing inside the Guinness half. He made a great break up the line and his pace got him over the line for the try. Daly converted. 20-0. The last 3 minutes of the half were spent inside our 22. Guinness attacking our line. Eventually just on the stroke of half time they got through our line. Half time score was 20-5.

The second half was a lot tighter affair. Guinness trying to play their way back into the game. With 18 minutes to go we got a penalty which Daly got. It put the scores 23-5 to us. For the rest of the half Guinness came back at us with prolonged spells in attacked. They went over for a try with around 10 minutes to go. 23-10. In the last play of the game Guinness went over in the corner. Final score 23-15.

Next up, like the J5’s, is the D6W Derby game on Saturday in Templeville against Terenure.