On a cold and wet Monday evening, our J4s played Dublin University in their Metro Division 6 League fixture.
They game was played in Templeville because the Trinity pitches in Santry were waterlogged.
They were young, fit and eager to stop our winning run. David Browne stood in as captain as our leader Mick Daly was running late.
We started off playing into the wind and against the hill. When we took them on in the pack we looked dangerous and made ground with some great rucking. At one lineout we took and mauled for 20 yards. The supporters watching thought that this would be the tone for the evening, but Trinity had a different idea, running the ball on every occasion. The first score came from a ball spread wide to our full back James Walsh who got in at the corner 5-0. Conversion missed by David Daly who had a tricky night with the strong wind blowing in his face.
The next score was to be a Trinity try; their winger intercepted a pass and ran the length of the field, also not converted. Half time 5-5.
The amount of dropped balls, knock on’s and lineout’s lost was not the usual performance from the J4s. Too many people were having a bad day at the office.
We regrouped at half time. Mick Daly had arrived and was on. The players were told that our game plan was to kick into Carville corner and to keep them pinned in their own 22.
We started the second half as requested by the coaches. Ball kicked into their 22. We put them under pressure and finally Richard Pyne intercepted and scored beside the posts. Conversion got. Score 12-5.
Then we switched off and tried to play them at their own game, running from deep. This was not the plan and Trinity got back into the game scoring a try. Conversion missed. 12-10.
The ref played 50 minutes in the second half .Our defence was immense. Every man stood up and tackled. We were on auto.
Final whistle blown. We won. No celebration. Job done, we move on to play Wanderers at home on Saturday .We can’t afford to be that bad again and expect to win. A lot done, more to do. Roll on Saturday.
Team 15. James Walsh, 14. Mick O’Connor, 13.Richard Pyne, 12.Denis Daly, 11.Peter Daly, 10.David Daly, 9. Cristian, 8. Gar Lloyd, 7. James Collery 6. David Balfour, 5.Richard Fagan, 4.Shane Fanning, 3.David Browne, 2.Stephen Walkin, 1.Taylor Berliant .Subs James Casey, Donagh Ryan, Kurt McNab, Mick Daly, and Gary Masterson.