2nd Team Weekend Report 15 Feb 09

There was no Valentines Day Towns Cup Romance for Clondalkin last Saturday afternoon, as they exited Irish Rugby’s oldest Cup competition at stage one after what was largely an error ridden performance.

It was the second time the sides contested the first round tie as the branch ordered the match to be replayed after the referee initially awarded a victory that belonged to Clondalkin to Portarlington due to a scorecard mix up.

There was, however, no need for the mathematicians and calculators this time round as there was one clear and obvious winner, the visitors, Portarlington.

Clondalkin in fact started the game well and looked comfortable at various stages in the opening half. The concession of a soft and late first half try did leave the hosts trailing 10-9 at the turn, but one of the strongest seconds sides in recent years looked more than capable of over turning the deficit after the rest.

That expected revival never came, however, as the team with so much talent and potential imploded and produced a second half performance that left this journalist facing a potential clash with Big Dan.

Dan recently called for more positive approach to the website reports but as a very frustrated and unfortunately injured-a state I may soon find myself in- Colm Tighe put it “the only positive thing about that half was it ended.”

With a team brimming with players capable of playing first team rugby, and considering Clon racked up over half a century of points en route to a comfortable league victory over their opponents the Gordon Park support were in optimistic mood prior to drop off.

And that confidence looked justified early on as Clon opened up an early lead. Underage graduate Andy Tyndall confidently converted two penalties to put the home side 6-0 to the good after just 10 minutes.

The reinforced visiting side did responded well and began to dominate possession and territory. But Clon looked comfortable without the ball and it seemed only a matter time before they raised the tempo to make a positive impact on the scoreboard.

Whilst under siege big tackles came in from the likes of Finbarr Butler, John Nolan and Conor Cassin.

Paul Hickey and Collie McHugh were also key to that solid defense. With Hickey making numerous groan inducing rib crunching hits, while McHugh’s tackles on the other hand were not as powerful but were certainly more plentiful.

In possession out half Eddie ‘Pud” Martens kicked well and provided a bit of experience to a youthful back line with Carl Horan looking like a potential scoring threat.

The man who was kept of the Leinster Youth side-and hence out of the current provincial set up, by his reckoning?- by Ireland A starlet, Sean O’Brien, Paul McDermot continued his impressive rugby revival and was once more menacing with ball in hand, and combined well at the base of the scrum alongside Brian Berry.

But Clondalkin seemed a little expectant and were not proactive in their search for points and as the sides exchanged penalties were fortunate to maintain their six point lead.

It seemed they would take that lead into interval but some sloppy play and missed tackles gifted the visitors a try and 10-9 half time lead.

The home support were not too worried though, believing a few half time words of rugby wisdom would see the talent packed side play with more urgency to go on a record victory.

Andy Tyndall came close to waddling over the line and registering a vital score within minutes of the restart but was stopped inches short. That proved to be the Gordon Parks sides last real scoring opportunity and things went dramatically down hill from there.

A penalty from the visiting number 8 from just meters inside the Clon half saw Portarlington pull further ahead. They then somehow emerged form a Clon maul with the ball to eventually waltz home out wide and go 18-9 ahead.

Clon were now under pressure and didn’t react positively. A knock on epidemic spread quickly through side and basic errors became common place. There was less cohesion and coordination in the host play than your stereotypical dancing Dad and there was more pattern to a tie dye shirt than general proceedings.

A lack of conviction and further fumbles and errors from the host allowed the visitors get on top and open up comfortable lead through two more converted tries.

Clon emptied the bench in hope of revival but a magical cup comeback didn’t materialise and a once fiery and hard fought tie petered out finishing on a very disappointing note for the host, as they exited a prestigious tournament they had designs on winning at the first hurdle.

Added by Murts February 16, 2009 (2:52PM)

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