J4 XV — Season 2018/19

J4 XV v Clontarf (A) 28.09.2018

Clontarf RFC J4 (10) St Marys J4 (18)

September 28th

Castle Avenue

St Mary’s J4’s made the cross-city trip to Clontarf last Friday night for a long awaited first league match in metro division 5. While the group that travelled was shorn of 10 players from the division 6 final winning squad, a strong preseason and some fortuitous recruitment left us quietly confident.

Mary’s, playing downhill towards the cricket pitch, started strongly after a great take from the kickoff from Jonathan Allison. A spell of pressure in Clontarf’s 22 was rewarded with a try by James Walsh following an excellent cross field kick from out-half Andrew Manning. A well-struck conversion drifted wide. (0 – 5)

Against the run of play, and in their first period in the Mary’s half, Clontarf mauled over from just inside the 22 for an un-converted try. (5 – 5) Two further missed kicks from the Clontarf 10 let the Mary’s team off the hook for some poor discipline but with the pressure eased and composure regained, we took a foothold in the Clontarf half and looked to take the lead before half time.

Mary’s backline continued to apply pressure and were rewarded with a break through the center from Captain Richard Pyne. His 13 years of experience in the team showed with a solid recycle and the Mary’s pack proceeded to batter the Clontarf try line for 5 minutes. Some great composure and marshalling from scrum-half John Cosgrove, resulted in huge pressure and 2 yellow cards for Clontarf. The breakthrough eventually came with James Walsh crossing. Again, a well-struck conversion drifted barely wide. (5 – 10).

Clontarf started the second half very strongly, both as a result of increased organization and strong running on their behalf but also poor discipline from Mary’s at ruck and lineout time. Numerous penalties gave Clontarf a foothold in the Mary’s 22. An inevitable, but harsh, yellow card followed for Mary’s and Clontarf, back to their full complement, got over in the corner for a well worked try. Conversion missed (10-10).

Mary’s bench brought a huge impact at this stage and Cal Gray converted a difficult penalty (10 – 13). An extended spell of pressure, with some good carrying from Fagan (just off a flight from his honeymoon), McGill and Martin gave Mary’s a scrum on the Clontarf line. Following a super pick from the back of the scrum Killian barged over for a crucial try. Conversion from the sideline missed (10-18).

Some stellar defense and solid clearance kicks (mostly) allowed Mary’s see out the game and come away with a great win and good start to season. 4 points in the bag but plenty of areas to work on and some very difficult challenges on the horizon!

Team: 1. Masterson, 2. McGill, 3. Byrne, 4. Fagan, 5. Allison, 6. Hynes, 7. Blanchet, 8. Nestor, 9. Cosgrove, 10. Manning, 11. Zaidel, 12. Pyne (c), 13: Walsh, 14, Martin, 15. Gray.

posted on the club website by Maurice

J4 XV v Wanderers (H) 12.10.2018

Metro League Division 5

12th October 2018

St. Mary’s College R.F.C. 17 Wanderers F.C. 22

A spirited display from St. Mary’s unfortunately wasn’t enough for them to overcome a strong Wanderers side in damp conditions at Templeville Road. Both sides had faced each other previously last April in the Winters Cup Quarter Final, with Wanderers winning 24-0 on that occasion. This was a much closer affair. St. Mary’s started strongly right from the kick off making good ground through hard carrying and backline play leaving Wanderer’s on the back foot. Their efforts were rewarded with two well taken penalties from outhalf Andrew Manning. After converting the second penalty, Mary’s earned a penalty inside their own half right from the Wanderers kick-off. Up stepped full back Niall Donovan to excellently kick the penalty from a huge distance to give Mary’s a 9-0 lead. See it for yourself [HERE](https://www.facebook.com/StMarysCollegeRFC/videos/339376603276291/)

Against the run of play Wanderers scored a try from a very well taken backline move off a lineout to score close to the posts to bring the score to 9-7. Still at this time Mary’s looked threatening and were unlucky not to score a try with a number of breaks from captain Richard Pyne, Richard Fagan, and no 8 Killian. Also despite the strong winds, Mary’s showed great composure under the high ball with great catches off the Wanderer’s restarts from Liam Kennelly and Padraig Nestor. Excellent defending from Dillon Zaidel created an attacking opportunity for Mary’s that generated a penalty that was well taken by Andrew Manning to bring the score to 12-7. Wanderer’s remained threatening throughout the first half and off the back of a penalty and lineout they ran in for a very similar try to their first, a well worked backline move to put them ahead 12-14 at the break.

Wanderers had the perfect start to the second half with an attack very early into the half culminating in a try in the corner. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 12-19. The second half was a fairly scrappy affair with the majority of play being spent in the middle of the park with neither team able to setup many attacking platforms and both defences having the upper hand. As the half progressed, Wanderers further extended their lead with a penalty moving the score onto 12-22 with not long to go. This score seemed to spur on Mary’s who finally began to get traction in their attacks with a large number of pick and go’s getting them territory in the Wanderers half. As Mary’s got further and further up the field, Niall Donovan took a penalty advantage as his opportunity to storm past several despairing Wanderers players to score in the corner to give Mary’s a lifeline in this game at 17-22 with 5 minutes remaining. Unfortunately there would be no further score in the game and Wanderers were able to wind the clock down to secure victory. Mary’s can take credit with the fightback to secure a bonus point and some excellent phases of play at times during the game. They travel to Stradbrook this Friday 19th to take on Blackrock College R.F.C.

posted on the club website by Maurice

J4 XV v Greystones (A) 30.11.2018

A cold but dry Friday saw the high-flying Greystones, who had yet to drop any points so far with only two teams coming even close to bonus point range, welcomed a Mary’s team, with the aid of a sprinkling of youth from the U 20’s, who ended up on the wrong side of a few tight games. It was Marys who started the better of the two working their way up to the Greystones try line only to be undone at the 5m line when a scrum penalty allowed Greystones to relieve the pressure. It was now Greystones turn to go on the attack leading to Greystones having a 5m scrum but as happened to Marys minutes earlier possession was lost and the line was clear. The opening 10 minutes set out what was to come for the remaining 70 with both side bringing an intensity to attach that was only matched by their opponents’ resolute defence making the tackle zone highly contested with both side earning turn overs and penalties. Play continued to move from one try line to the other only for the defensive team to win out each time until Greystones conceded a penalty just outside their 22. Dave Daly duly stepped up to the mark and coolly slotted the kick breaking the deadlock and give first blood to the Blue of Marys. Unfortunately as can so often happed after a score Marys failed to deal properly with the kick off and Greystones earned a penalty on the 22 and proceed to level the score. With the penalty count rising on both side the referee called in both captains for a word. As the half drew to a close Marys again built through the phases only to be turned over near the Greystones 10. Greystones managed to drive deep into the Marys half and after a few phases of quickly recycled ball finally found a chink in the otherwise impenetrable Marys line and got in for the first try of the game.

The second half got under way Greystones aimed to build on the momentum of the first and quickly found themselves battering at the Marys line once more. While Greystones upped their attacking intensity the blue line rose to the challenge stopping them again and again in their tracks until the defensive pressure was too great and the error was force and Marys reclaimed the ball. The penalties continued to mount with Johnny Kelly the first of the match to receive an enforce 10-minute break on the side line. He was not on his own for long with a Greystones player joining him at the end of the following play. It was Marys who took advantage of the referee’s intervention and drove on to the Greystone 5 where some fast rucking by the forwards and quick hands across the back line saw the man with no number cross in the far corner to bring the Blues back to within 2 at 10-8. Unfortunately while the conversion attempt was true it lack the legs and fell short. From the restart it was back to business as neither side gave an inch. As we entered the final quarter it was Greystones again how managed to break the deadlock getting over in the corner for an unconverted try and a 15-8 score line. As they had for the entire game the Blues just dusted them selves off and went back at it with renewed aggression they found themselves driving down the right into the home 22. Again with the pack securing quick ball the backs found the space and the again the man with no number after a flick of his hair and a step any Fijian would be proud of stormed over under the posts and added the extras in short order to tie up the game with only minutes remaining. Greystones came back strong but could not get a foothold beyond the Marys 10. With seconds left Marys again turned the ball over and won the penalty and having decided discretion is the better part of valour put the ball out ending the game much to the disappointment of those in the stand who wanted more of quality rugby on offer. The final score was a fair result for how both teams played but after a tough few weeks it was an achievement to be the first to take points off the league toppers. A special thanks to Lukas and Killian who played their final match For Marys as they return home the France.

posted on the club website by Maurice

St. Mary's: 1 Gary Masterson, 2 David McGill, 3 Lorcan Byrne, 4 Jonathan Allison, 5 Richard Fagan, 6 James Hynes, 7 Killian Blanchet, 8 Padraig Nestor, 9 John Cosgrove, 10 Andrew Manning, 11 Dillon Zaidel, 12 Richard Pyne, 13 James Walsh, 14 John Martin, 15 Cal Gray.

Replacements: 16 James Curley, 17 Alexander Cribbin, 18 Dean Hayes, 19 Daniel McManus, 20 Fernando Vadillo.

Scorers. Tries: James Walsh (2), Killian Blanchet. Penalties: Cal Gray (per match report).

From the club appearances workbook (J4-J5 Appearances 2018-2019, J4 sheet).

St. Mary's: 1 Gary Masterson, 2 Matthew Fagan, 3 David Browne, 4 Richard Fagan, 5 Liam Kennelly, 6 Padraig Nestor, 7 Jonathan Kelly, 8 Killian Blanchet, 9 Daniel McManus, 10 Andrew Manning, 11 Dillon Zaidel, 12 Richard Pyne, 13 Denis Daly, 14 James Walsh, 15 Niall Donovan.

Replacements: 16 James Curley, 17 Robert Trew, 18 Lukas Fourcade, 19 Gavin Potts, 20 Matthew Dillon.

Scorers. Tries: Niall Donovan. Penalties: Andrew Manning (3), Niall Donovan (per match report).

From the club appearances workbook (J4-J5 Appearances 2018-2019, J4 sheet).

St. Mary's: 1 Callan Carey, 2 Matthew Fagan, 3 David Browne, 4 David Balfour, 5 Liam Kennelly, 6 Robert Trew, 7 Craig Byrne, 8 Killian Blanchet, 9 Daniel McManus, 10 David Daly, 11 Paul Opperman, 12 Matthew Dillon, 13 James Walsh, 14 John Martin, 15 Cal Gray.

Replacements: 16 James Curley, 17 Lukas Fourcade, 18 Jonathan Kelly, 19 Gareth Lloyd, 20 Daniel Hurley.

From the club appearances workbook (J4-J5 Appearances 2018-2019, J4 sheet).

St. Mary's: 1 Gary Masterson, 2 Matthew Fagan, 3 David Browne, 4 Richard Fagan, 5 Liam Kennelly, 6 Lukas Fourcade, 7 Jonathan Kelly, 8 Padraig Nestor, 9 David Daly, 10 Cal Gray, 11 John Martin, 12 Killian Blanchet, 13 Richard Pyne, 14 Daniel Hurley, 15 James Walsh.

Replacements: 16 James Curley, 17 James Hynes, 18 Jonathan Allison, 19 James McHugh, 20 Colin Foley.

From the club appearances workbook (J4-J5 Appearances 2018-2019, J4 sheet).

St. Mary's: 1 Padraig Nestor, 2 Matthew Fagan, 3 David McGill, 4 Richard Fagan, 5 Liam Kennelly, 6 James McHugh, 7 Lukas Fourcade, 8 Gareth Lloyd, 9 Daniel McManus, 10 Cal Gray, 11 Eric Dunne, 12 Killian Blanchet, 13 Richard Pyne, 14 James Walsh, 15 Niall Donovan.

Replacements: 16 Aaron Doherty, 17 Rory Litton, 18 Sam Keating, 19 Andrew Manning, 20 Aidan Boyle.

From the club appearances workbook (J4-J5 Appearances 2018-2019, J4 sheet).

St. Mary's: 1 Aaron Doherty, 2 Matthew Fagan, 3 Lorcan Byrne, 4 Richard Fagan, 5 Liam Kennelly, 6 James Hynes, 7 Lukas Fourcade, 8 Padraig Nestor, 9 Denis Daly, 10 Cal Gray, 11 Daniel Hurley, 12 Killian Blanchet, 13 Richard Pyne, 14 John Martin, 15 Dillon Zaidel.

Replacements: 16 Sam Keating, 17 Niall O'Faolain, 18 Aidan Boyle.

From the club appearances workbook (J4-J5 Appearances 2018-2019, J4 sheet).

St. Mary's: 1 Lorcan Byrne, 2 Matthew Fagan, 3 David McGill, 4 Jonathan Kennedy, 5 Liam Kennelly, 6 Jonathan Kelly, 7 Lukas Fourcade, 8 Killian Blanchet, 9 Alan McPhillips, 10 Cal Gray, 11 John Martin, 12 Dillon Zaidel, 13 Denis Daly, 14 Daniel Hurley, 15 Daniel McManus.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Barnes, 17 David Daly, 18 Paul Opperman, 20 James Shaw.

Scorers. Penalties: David Daly ("Dave Daly"). Tries: 2 by an unnamed player ("the man with no number"), who also kicked one conversion (per match report).

From the club appearances workbook (J4-J5 Appearances 2018-2019, J4 sheet).

St. Mary's: 1 Padraig Nestor, 2 Matthew Fagan, 3 David McGill, 4 Liam Kennelly, 5 Andrew McCarthy, 6 James McHugh, 7 Jonathan Kelly, 8 Karl O'Brien, 9 Daniel McManus, 10 Cal Gray, 11 Peter Daly, 12 Richard Pyne, 13 Denis Daly, 14 Alan Gould, 15 James Walsh.

Replacements: 16 Neil Cosgrove, 17 Elliot Chambers, 18 James Collery, 19 Dean Hayes, 20 Eric Dunne.

From the club appearances workbook (J4-J5 Appearances 2018-2019, J4 sheet).