3 out of 3 for Senior Teams

Clondalkin rugby club enjoyed a great weekend last weekend with all three senior teams having emerged victorious from their respective fixtures at the weekend. First up was the third team who were away to Wanderers on Saturday. Bolstered by the return from injury of up and coming first team prop Kevin Kelly the third teamers took a comfortable and deserved victory by a scoreline of 29-3. The try from all time top try scorer Paul Fitzgerald was the pick of the tries.

Next up were the second team who enjoyed a 7 try to 3 victory over Wexford side Gorey. The pick of the tries here was a Keith Doyle special from the half way line showing the Blancardstown man is settling in nicely wearing the number 10 jersey. The side missing several key players still proved to be too good for a gutsy Wexford side who fought bravely to put two late tries on the scoreboard and finish the game 39-19.

The pressure then mounted on the first team, who were yet to win a game since winning the first league game of the season against Edenderry, to make it three from three for the senior sides. The Clondalkin side have found the step up in level to be tougher than expected but the team are now starting to cut their teeth at this higher level. The Clondalkin men were 9-3 up going into the second half of the game when coaches Kenny O’Brien and Rob Hayes decided the Polar Bear Kevin Cullen and club captain Conor Maloney from the bench when Clondalkin were awarded a try 10 metres out from the opposition try line. Maloneys added bulk and superb technical scrimmaging ability honed down under in New Zealand under the tuition of Brent Pope led to what can only be described as one of the best forward tries scored in Clondalkin history. The Clondalkin scrum had been dominant all day but nobody could have expecting them to drive the Gorey pack back over their try line and with the Polar Bear dropping on the ball with effectively his first touch of the ball meant the Clondalkin men were 14-3 up. Stevey Cunningham converted to make it 16-3. Gorey tried to mount a comeback as the game entered the last ten minutes but sterling defense from Dan Shingles Fitzpatrick and centre pairing Phily Byrne and Paul Hickey meant Gorey would not register another score all game. Clondalin pushed home their superior advantage and Stevey Cunningham finished off a fine game with a try of his own. Final score 21-3.

Next up for the firsts and seconds is Kilkenny while the thirds are at home to Clontarf this Saturday.

Added by Murts November 14, 2008 (11:48AM)

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