Clon moving up

Leinster League

Division 1 promotion-relegation playoff

Clondalkin 36

Portarlington 15

Clondalkin RFC will play Leinster League Division 1 rugby for the first time in their history after the first team produced when it mattered most and defeated Portarlington in the relegation/promotion playoff in Athy last Sunday.

The fat lady was warming up and about to sing, as Clondalkin looked destined to blow promotion for the second successive season dropping out of the top two with a string of five consecutive defeats over the last two months.

However, the Gordon Park side ripped up the form book and shoved it down the aforementioned plump singers throat, as they won the biggest game in the clubs history to put Clon just two promotions shy of professional rugby.

Clon started the Athy hosted tie like they had finished their last few games and found themselves 8-0 behind early on.

Their opponent's turned a potential Clondalkin score into a Portarlington five pointer when their winger broke the length of the pitch seconds after David Jebb flirted with the line.

Clondalkin, however, didn’t capitulate and began to dominate against a side they beat twice previously last year.

Fittingly the scrum, which has been solid all season, was the catalyst behind the score that got Clon back in contention. Winger Gary Donnelly, who has looked threatening but not lethal of late, finished superbly in the corner after Mark Molloy and Paul McDermott combined down the blind.

Chris Jebb sent the conversion just wide of the post but sailed over a penalty minutes later to leave 8-8 at the break.

Clondalkin extended the lead within seconds of the restart and put themselves in promotion pole.

Portarligton knocked on straight from the second drop off and the smallest man on the park Mark Molly broke from the scrum to score probably the biggest try in the club’s history.

The veteran scrum half grubber kicked from and won the race to touch down just inches before the dead ball line to give Clon a 15-8 advantage and a lead they refused to give up.

A strong defensive shift was put in over the next few minutes as Portarligton began to battle for their Division 1 lives, but Clon answered all questions asked and closed the door firmly on all opponent advances.

Penalty specialist Jebb and long range drop goal addict Steve Cunningham both proceeded to split the posts and gave Clon some breathing space before the Division 2 side all but ensured an Leinster League upgrade with a finely worked try with 15 minutes to go.

Second row Kevin ‘The Polar Bear’ Cullen, who performed admirably despite the non artic conditions throughout, set free prop Sean Dunne who raced over the line to make 26-8.

Sub Kevin Kelly was then introduced and dismissed within a minute for a ruck infringement and while the Gordon Park residence were down to 14 Portarligton scored a second try.

It proved nothing more than consolation however as Jebb registered another penalty and Simon King touched down his own block down to wrapped up the greatest win the clubs history.

Added by admin April 13, 2011 (9:57PM)

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