UCD RFC J1s V St Mary’s College RFC J1s
49 12
Metro League 1
Belfield
Sunday 16th October 2016.
Overall
Having used a compass and map the pitch in Belfield was located, on another sunny October afternoon. The team lining out for Marys had a reasonable appearance. This was especially true in the pack and indeed in that sphere we were competitive most of the game, with parity in scrums and, except for lapses, in the loose. However, too many turnovers were conceded and against a big fast hard running UCD side, one aspect was emphatically deficient in the Marys’ side; tackling. Every one of the seven converted UCD tries showed up the feeble and inept tackling and therein was the main difference between the sides. It was a major disappointment.
It does little good to excoriate a team but credibility calls for honest appraisal and it will be hoped that this flogging will be a spur to pride and endeavour. Next Sunday will give a good opportunity to correct the problems when the J1s face Terenure at home. Honest and dedicated captain, Peter Starrett, did his best to infuse his men with fire, and for a while in the second half it looked as though a comeback might materialise, only for the challenge to fade in the face of two quick scores. In the pack, Emmett Ferron stood out in his all-round commitment and ability. Behind the scrum Conor Gilsenan, playing scrumhalf, due to a late withdrawal, showed the kind of performance expected of a senior player, he played to exhaustion, with skill, enterprise and bravery, he scored two tries and was the outstanding St Marys’ player and MoM.
The scores came throughout the game. After seven minutes UCD, playing with a strong wind, took a quick tap penalty and ran through easily to score.7 – 0. It was 16 minutes when Conor Gilsenan, broke from loose play outside the UCD 22 and weaved his way through several defenders to score an admirable try. UCD hit back on 21 minutes with a try from a scrum break, 14 – 5 and on 28 minutes a missed tackle in midfield let UCD in again, to make it 21 – 5. On 35 minutes UCD ran in a try from 6o metres. Yet again, a midfield break gave UCD their final try of the half to leave the score 28 – 5 at half time.
The second half showed hope when with the wind now in favour, Marys attacked and were reward with a try after a maul, drives and Conor slipping over, it was converted by Hugh McDonnell, on 45 minutes; 28 – 12. Hope died with two from the home side, on 54 and 55 minutes when the score went to 42 – 12; and on 72 minutes UCD wrapped it up with another converted try. The final score was 49 – 12.
D O’Brien
Team
15 Z O’Hagan, 14 D Sloan, 13 JJ Clarke, 12 M Joyce, 11 A Smirnov, 10 H McDonnell, 9 C Gilsenan, 8 J Dilger, 7 E Conroy, 6 C Ruddock 5 P Starrett (Capt) 4 H Diepman, 3 E Ferron, 2 S O’Brien 1 N Murphy. C Ryan, F Magee, C McDonnell, R Mc Phillips.