Clon run riot

Leinster Division 2

Clondalkin 74

Wexford 7

Jonny Stapleton

Wexford suffered the wrath of wounded animal Clondalkin last Sunday as the Gordon Park side put behind them a disappointing home Goery defeat with a sensational 12 salvo.

Clon returned to victory trail whipping the Division 2 whipping boys by breaking the 70 point marker via six tries either side of the turn. The stylish victory not only sweetened the bitter taste left by a surprise defeat to Gorey two weeks ago, but more importantly re-establish’s Clon’s promotions credentials with just three games remaining.

It is squeaky bum time for the Dublin 22 outfit as they now enter the three biggest games in the clubs history. If Clon claim victory in a grudge game against bogey side Clane, league leaders Longford and former Division 1 outfit Kilkenny over the next three weeks they will play Division 1 rugby for the first time in their history.

Clondalkin signalled their try scoring intent early on when man of the match Brian Coffey, who was chief ball carrier and yard maker throughout the game, took advantage of a robbed lineout from Paul Nolan and barged his way over the line, enabling Brian Doyle to touch down.

Chris Jebb converted to make it 7-0 and it wasn’t long before Clon pushed their advantage to 12. Niall Nolan over took his injured brother John in the try scoring charts with a fine individual effort.

The hosts then flirted with the form that saw them loose the week previous producing a number of unforced efforts whilst falling off tackles.

However the drop in form proved temporary and it wasn’t long before Doyle was touching down again. The hooker who was promoted to prop for the day picked from the base of a ruck after a lovely show and go by Jebb and with men screaming etihter side of him decided to take the direct route to the line.

Firemen Ali Collier and Steve Cunningham then combined to burn Wexford as Clon registerd the bonus point before the half hour mark. Second team captain, Collier unlocked what proved a relatively open visiting defence with a stylish over the shoulder pass to allow the veteran full back to score a deserved five points.

A string of missed hits then allowed Wexford to pull one back, but normal business was resumed as Andy Dixon and Cunningham combined to send Nolan scampering home for his second.

Coffey then got the score his all round display deserved to make it 38-7 at the turn.

Underage graduate Nolan registered his first senior hat-trick not long after the restart with hooker Coffey again involved.

Number 8 Paul McDermot got in on the act and made it seven tries in seven games with a quick fire double. His first effort coming off a superb dummy and his second after, what proved a solid and impressive scrum throughout won against the head five yards out.

Clon continued to dominated despite miss firing on occasion and second team regular Carl Horan furthered his claim for a first team starting berth with a supper intercept.

Not to be outdone Chris Jebb rounded off the route with a double of his own. The out half who kicked 14 points raced home from his own 22 with five minutes to go before out foxing a poor Wexford defence with a quick tap and go with the last action of the game.

Added by admin March 8, 2011 (7:47PM)

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