2nds Report: Drum feel Clons Rath

Article and spelling by Jonny Stapleton
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Leinster League Provisional Seconds Rathdrum 17 v Clondalkin 29

Clondalkin seconds secured an impressive away victory in the most picturesque ground in Leinster Rugby last Sunday thanks in particular to three late tries that were as aesthetically pleasing on the eye as the mountainous Rathdrum surroundings.

The visitors turned on the style late in the second half and emerged from what was previously a hard fought battle with a relatively comfortable win thanks in particular to three brilliantly executed try.

Brain Berry and Derek Murtagh finished off two wonderful team moves while Lee Beresford crossed the white wash in fine individual style to give the visitors a well deserved try.

It wasn’t quiet dutch gold but it certainly wasn’t champagne rugby in the opening period as both sides tried to establish a foot hold in the game. Clon were battling gamely and for the most part were the better side but failed to pull away.

A superb round the corner ball by Brain Berry set Carl Horan scampering for the line but the player who impressed in his first start at full back was held up just short.

Clon were dominating the set piece, with Connor Cashlin finding his jumpers with regular accuracy and the entire pack excelling in the scrum.

And fittingly it was the forwards who inspired the Gordon Park natives opening score.

Paul McDermot, who was once again a man of the match candidate-at one stage produced a Carlos Spencer style dummy-, pick and drove for the line and with a little help from Finbarr Butler touched down to make if 5-0.

An impressive Keith Doyle conversion soon transformed 5 in to 7.

A comedy of errors however undid all the hard work as Clon gifted the hosts the easiest of tries. A penalty and try in quick succession before the break then saw Drum steel a march and take a somewhat undeserved 15-7 lead into the turn.

Clon made a positive start after the break. Rathdrum did try and move the ball wide but Sean Dunne was defensively immense in the centers. The former Leinster Championship winning prop didn’t only stop Drums advances but put Clondalkin on the front foot with his big hits.

After some good all round play from the likes of Horan, Butler, McAuley, Keith Doyle, Geoghan and Brain Berry in particular Clon eventually reduced the arrears.

Stephen Tyndal, who became more of a threat as the game wore on, using all of his massive bulk and frame to pick the ball up on the line move it two inches and touch it down to score the second easiest try of his young career.

Not long after the Dublin side regained the lead this time doing it in brilliant style. Against all advice Brain Berry took a quick tap penalty evaded numerous challenges before finding McDermot. The former Leinster underage cap added more yards to the attack before offloading of the ground to Butler, who in turn waited patiently for the on rushing Berry to arrive, take a pop and race home under the posts.

Keith Doyle converted to give the visiting outfit a two point cushion. It was at this point Clon began to produce a more expansive brand of rugby.

After showing a great awareness of space Berry put in a probing kick that eventually lead to a Clon a five meter penalty. Intially Tyndall tried the direct route to the line, but when his advances were successfully repelled the scrum decided to put width on the ball. The backline moved the ball with pace out to the wing and in a not so fast manner captain Murtagh fell over the line to put 7 between the sides.

The visitors continued to push and were moving the ball well in the last few minutes and a probe down the blind eventually ended a fine individual Beresford try. The second centre, who has added a new dimension to the second team backline, literally danced his way to the line, pirouetting in a manner Michael Jackson would have been proud of on three occasions before touching down.

The visitors weren’t happy with there five try salvo though and they continued to push. Conor Cashlin, who was playing his last game before a three month Sates sabbatical and was impressive throughout, came close but failed to score-a problem he rectified in the Plaza and Days hotel later that evening. Brain Berry also came close but after sprinting 15 yards hadn’t the energy or pace to out run the opposition prop.

Added by Murts February 24, 2009 (12:24PM)

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