Delayed Article: 2nds (38) vs Longford (10)

By jonny stapleton

The big men in yellow rather than the big man in red ensured Clondalkin seconds will enjoy a happy Christmas at the top of the Provisional Seconds Division 2 table.

The Clon pack were exceptional against Longford last Sunday and so successful in their try hunt they managed to cross the whitewash on six occasions inspiring the Gordon Park side to a victory that saw them leap frog Athy to go top of table.

It was clear from the off the visitors were no match for the home front eight and it wasn’t long before the hosts took the lead. Veteran Finbarr Butler broke unadvised from a well executed maul to touch his first try in ten years. Andy Tyndall converted to make it 7-0.

The lead was doubled soon after with a near carbon copy effort, this time the inspirational Bren Ward registering the five.

Clon were clearly on top and their domination up front all but made redundant a potent backline that included the clubs all time top-scorer Paul Fitzgerald and the ‘Dream Boat’ with a two try per game ratio, Dave Behan.

That forward dominance continued to produce scores and was translated by the scoreboard. This time number eight Simon Cumisky, who boasts a scoring record a back would be proud of, barged over after the returning Oliver MeGraw won a scrum against the head to leave the game all but wrapped up at 21-0 at the break.

Clon may have had all four points wrapped up at the turn around but they didn’t let up and went in search for the eight bonus point of the season and fittingly it came from Captain Kevin Cullen.

‘The Polar Bear’ showed his predatory instinct robbing a certain score from Cumisky after another impressive forward maul to register the hosts third consecutive bonus try scoring bonus point.

Clondalkin and the pack, which was given territory by the impressive boot of Andy Tyndall, in particular didn’t settle for the bonus point. It was quiet champagne rugby, in fact it was more Buck Fizz, but they did continue to attack albeit via the pack.

October player of the month and former full back James Kelly continued his impressive renaissance at prop and ensured the ref used his pencil more than his whistle by making the man in the middle mark down another score.

Cumisky then ensured he became Kelly’s player of the month predecessor with his second and Clon’s sixth.

Clon are now in pole position to win the Seconds League for the first time since Ciaran Collins captained a side that boasted the great Pat Houghton over ten years ago.

Added by Murts December 18, 2009 (12:10PM)

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