Nolan delivers a knockout blow

Clondalkin vs Ashbourne

Article by Jonny Stapleton Leinster PRO of the year John Nolan provided the knock out blow as Clondalkin firsts defeated fellow promotion contenders Ashbourne in Gordon Park last Sunday.

Nolan, who is enjoying a fine return to form, burnt the Ash defence to register a fine individual try in the second period, sending himself top of the Clondalkin scoring charts and Clondalkin toward the top of the table in process.

A fine defensive display in the last 10 minutes also contributed Clondalkin’s victory over the side that piped them to second and denied them a promotion play off place last term.

The Gordon Park outfit are now unbeaten in their last three ties and have got their promotion bid back on course.

Since their sole league loss to Clane late last month Clondlakin have been more firm than fancy and they applied a more determined approach in their biggest game of the season so far.

In a forward dominated game Seanie Brennan hinted at a return to form and again the Clon set piece worked effectively.

Simon King returned to the back row and impressed without reigning supreme, the combative flanker won as many penalties as he conceded but fortunately for last years player of the year Chris Jebb was in better kicking form than his opposite number.

The former AIL out half, who has accounted for all but 10 of Clon’s points in the last three games, succeeded twice were his opposite number failed on three occasions and converted two long range penalties to give Clon a 6-0 advantage at the turn.

The tight and tense nature of the game continued into the second half as the side traded up front blows and penalties leaving the game in the balance at 9-3.

Nolan eventually put some breathing space between them and their close Division 2 rivals. Kevin Cullen broke from the base of a scrum deep in his own half, before quick ball found its way to Nolan via the hands of Brian Doyle.

The centre broke clear and chipped ahead before gathering his own kick to touch down for the sixth time this season to make it 14-3.

Ashbourne did break the hosts resolve late on and got within four with a try, but Clon held firm to register a moral boosting win.

Meanwhile Dave Jebb rounded off a fine team move to steal the headlines from hat trick hero Carl Horan registering a try that secured that simultaneously secure victory and the bonus point for Clon seconds last Saturday.

The 19 year old starlet and man of the match contender benefited from a Lee Beresford and Paul Fitzgerald interchange as well as a superb Dave Behan break to ensure Clon remained top of the table thanks to a last gasp 25-18 win.

However, if Jebb was the hero Horan was his trusty sidekick emulating the feat of Matthew Brocklebank the week previous and crossing the white wash on now fewer than three occasions.

Despite not hitting top form the Clondalkin second string have now registered 24 out of a possible 25 points this term and are the clubs form side.

Elsewere the thirds suffered a disappointing 53-12 reverse against Barnhall on the same day. Two tries from captain Simon Cumisky were all the third string had to celebrate on what proved to be a miserable afternoon.

John Nolan Strikes again

Added by admin October 19, 2010 (10:30AM)

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