Clon Seconds burn Ash

Jonny Stapleton
Provisional Seconds Leinster League
Ashbourne 19 v Clondalkin 34

A Dave Behan treble inspired Clondalkin to the bonus point victory that kept their league title hopes well and truly alive last Sunday.

The relative rugby rookie made it a sensational 12 tries in 10 games, with a performance worthy of the professional and magnificent Ashbourne surrounds, to ensure Clondalkin are just solitary point off pace setters Athy.

With ‘Dream Boat’ Behan in such form there is a feeling that Clon could get the tries and subsequent bonus points in their last two games to ensure their ship does come and they claim the clubs first seconds league title in ten years.

Clon went into the game under pressure to match front runners Athy’s result on the same ground a week earlier and had their nerves settled by an early Behan effort.

The winger came in of the flank and powered through the opposition first centre and full back before dragging the covering flanker over the line with him to make 5-0. Andy Tyndall added the extras before a penalty to push the advantage to 10-0.

However once Clon took the lead and began to dominate complacency set in. That lethargic visiting effort rather than any opposing quality eventually enabled the host to get back into the tie.

An injury that will certainly hamper any family plans Paul Hickey has, forced the Gordon Park side into a reshuffle that hampered in equal measure their productivity and ability to score.

And but for some tactical tight play from Finbarr Butler, some timely John Nolan hits and a brilliant try saving tackle from Peter 'Big Hits Fitz'gerald Ashbourne could have closed the gap.

The host did eventually get over and again it was due more to poor Clon defending that Ashbourne’s attacking. The score proved the wake up call the sleepy Clon needed and they instantly upped the tempo and it wasn’t long before Behan was touching down again.

The winger, who now shares scoring regularity as well as appearance with Fernando Torres, this time burning the Ash defence, crossing the white wash benefiting from an impressive Dave Gaule GaryOwen and a super take and pass from reigning player of the month Andy Tyndall.

The score once more gave the visitors breathing space but this time it didn’t usher an air of detrimental confidence. Some big hits from the busy Ollie Megraw, James Kenny, Butler amongst others paired with some ruck stealing CCTV would struggle to catch from Ken McMahon ensured their was no way back for the home side and it remained 15-7 at the turn.

Another Fitzgerald hit, this time on the Ashbourne chief ball carrier set the tone for the second half. And after Clon weathered an early storm on what was a beautiful day they hit back and eventually extended their lead.

The league title contenders were punching well up front and did look potentially dangerous out wide but the knock blow was delivered right down the middle. Gaule split the black Ash sea with a superb dummy before showing a pair of heels and some fancy foot work that would have looked at home on any Saturday night dance floor to make it 22-7.

The all important bonus point was now in sight and it eventually came moments later after John Nolan and Fitzgerald combined to break the length of the pitch and win a penalty.

The impressive Mark Duggan tapped quickly and fed Tyndall who elected to ignore the calls of the four in support and give it to the man most likely to apply the finish, Behan. And as expected the man who averages 1.2 tries a game registered the bonus point and his twelfth of the season.

Ashbourne managed to pull one back but Gaule ensured it was a consolation effort rather than revival inspiring touch down with another brilliant individual touch down.

Hooker MeGraw, almost registered his first touch down in senior rugby when he pounced on a sloppy line out and side stepped two backs en-route to the line. His lung busting effort was stopped short, however, not by a Ash tackle but by the referee, who it seems also holds the “no Ollie tries” belief.

As the game died out the only thing Clon had to cheer was a massive Simon Cuminsky carry. But even an Ashbourne try, which came via a super Paddy Lawlor hit and characteristic poor Gaule pass couldn’t take the gloss of the magnificent performance.

Click on the link below to see images from the game posted on the Ashbourne website:
http://www.ashbournerugby.ie/index.php?a=gallery_photo

Added by Murts March 24, 2010 (11:34AM)

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