Stillorgan 13 Clondalkin 10

J4 League

Stillorgan 13

Clondalkin 10

It was a frustrating case of close but no cigar for Clondalkin again last Saturday as a dogged Stillorgan display extinguished any hopes of a first league win for the fourth string.

The novice yet brave outfit dominated for large parts and showed signs of further improvement in another tense affair.

However despite obvious signs of on field development the fourths failed to improve on previous results and were once again disappointed to loose a close encounter of the rugby kind.

Clon started the brighter and dominated the early exchanges but despite shading territory and possession found themselves trailing 6-0 after 20 minutes.

Stillorgan took full advantage of two dubious penalty decisions to open an undeserved early lead. The home side also took advantage of a rule that allowed them to go uncontested at scrum time, taking away one Clon’s most powerful weapons and attacking threats.

Despite trailing Clondalkin continued to shade proceedings with Ciaran Cahill, Michael Heaney, Stephen Kenny and former Tallaght player Derek Flanagan a constant source of go forward ball. The visitors, however showed a lack of ruthlessness and failed to convert pressure into points.

Indeed they turned down a shot at goal right on half time in favour of the line, but wasted the line out and went in scoreless at the break.

A sloppy and loose pass minutes after the turn granted Stillorgan the first try of the game and their full back touched down under the posts to make it 13-0.

A resilient Clon, however failed to give up and just like the first 20 minutes the hosts were in complete control for the last.

Flanker turned scrum half Luke Sweetman was impressively guiding his pack around the paddock and fittingly it was impressive forward play that lead to the Gordon Park outfits first score.

Substitute John Murphy tacking over for 3 after the pack, in which Heaney and Greg Dunne were impressing, won a penalty.

The score seemed to galvanise the Gordon Park outfit further and it wasn’t long before they were celebrating a try. Keith Luby rounded of a fine team move after great work by Stephen Coyle Rowan to make it 13-10 with 10 minutes to go.

With victory in sight the visitors went all out for the winner. Unfortunately for them however they got infected with white line fever and for the second week running failed to take their scores and passed up on a first victory in the process.

　

Added by Owly October 26, 2010 (3:32PM)

This article hasn't been commented yet.

Have a comment? Please register