Clondalkin set up a top of the table clash with Wexford win

Jonny Stapleton

Clondalkin RFC ensured the long trip to Wexford wasn’t a wasted journey by making short work of committed opponents last Sunday. The Gordon Park side registered a try for every hour of the four hour round trip to collect a bonus point victory and set up a mouth-watering top of the table clash with Longford in the process.

Clon are now unbeaten in five of games and an the impressive run of form has seen them claim Leinster League Division 2 second slot. Second could soon be upgraded to first, however as Clon welcome table toppers Longford to Gordon Park this weekend. “Longford are a point ahead of us in the league and a win over them see‘s up go top.” Captain Dan Fitzpatrick said. “But top now means nothing. There is a long way to go and there are a lot of good teams in this league. Everyone is capable of taking points of each other. We approach every game looking for a win regardless of the opposition and that will be the same this weekend. We know Longford are a very good side but Gordon Park is a difficult place to come and we will be confident of winning at home.”

Difficult conditions dictated the early proceedings in last weekends games and both sides struggled to impose themselves early on. However, as it has done so many times over the last few years, the Clondalkin scrum turned the tide in the visitors favour. The front eight marched the opposition pack back beyond their own line enabling number 8 Paul McDermot to touch down and make it 5-0. Chris Jebb added the extra two before registering five more points to his and his teams tally. The inform kicker and former AIL and Ireland under-19 player finished from ten yards out to leave it 12-0 at the turn. Clon upped the tempo after the break and reaped instant reward. Simon King made it a hat-trick of scores for graduates of the clubs most successful youth team when he barged his way over the white wash.

The bonus point score wasn’t long in coming and when it did it came via a likely source, last seasons top scorer, Brain ‘Brusier’ Doyle. The hooker benefited from some direct Conor Maloney play before destroying the opposition scrum half to score another important try. Talented 18 year old Niall Nolan rounded of the romp and closed the gap on brother and centre John Nolan, who reigns at the top of this years scoring charts, with a fine touch down. The former Leinster underage player finished off a brilliant panache loaded back line move to leave the final score reading 31-5.

　 Meanwhile the third team were the masters of their own downfall in Ternure on Saturday. The visitors gifted the senior club two tries enroute to a dissapointing defeat. Eamon Hughes did score a fine try for the hosts but they eventually lost by a nine point margin.

Added by Murts November 10, 2010 (1:50PM)

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