U18s Report: not so unlucky 13 for Clon

Article and spelling by Jonny Stapleton
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North Midlands League PortLaois 19 Clondalkin 36

Clondalkin’s ever improving under-18 outfit proved they have a fighting spirit to compliment the abundance of talent the side have at their disposal with another odds defying victory in Port Laois early last Saturday morning.

Clondalkin traveled to Laois with just 13 players after all night 18th birthday celebrations for a certain team member had rendered numerous players incapable of playing. That however wasn’t gone to prevent those willing and more importantly able from fighting, winning and hence holding a celebration of their own.

In fact Clon seemed to revile in the adverse conditions and despite sever numerical disadvantage ran in five tries to secure victory against quality opposition.

After a brief feeling out period Clon settled and began to dominate. The backline worked hard to stay organised and nullify any numerical disadvantages while the pack filled the line admirably. Brilliant communication and focus made it appear the sides were in fact numerically equal.

Surprisingly despite only having seven forwards the Clon pack began to turn over a lot of ball. Bobby Smith, Stephen McKenna, Dave Jebb and particularly Tom McGratton were performing heroics in the tight. Then once in possession Clon always looked threatening. Ronan Higgins, who is at present the clubs most natural 10, began to boss the game from outhalf while Niall Nolan was as per usual electric with ball in hand.

Fitting it was the duo that combined to set Dave Jebb racing home for the opening score.

A clever interchange saw Nolan break the gain line before feeding Jebb the flanker then proceeded to produce a finish his oldest brother Chris, a AIL Trinity winger, would have been proud of.

Firstly he took a direct root producing two palm offs that saw him go face to face with the fullback and he elected to employ a clever step to evade that challenge and eventually score.

Darragh Ward, who has really began to impress at scrum half, was literally an inch short of extending the lead seconds latter. After the Laois restart failed to go ten Clon took the scrum and the pacey Ward broke from the base outpaced the opposition but was stopped just short by the visiting full back.

It wasn’t long, however, before Clon got the score their play deserved. A huge hit and steal by McGratton, who got around the park admirably considering he was tied up in the front row, eventually saw the ball find its way to Nolan and the Ireland star finished brilliantly.

The hosts pacey centre pulled one back for the hosts though, racing clear to finish from within his own 22 but Clon ensured the score didn’t inspire a revival.

Nolan immediately tacked on a penalty after good work by David Heffernan and Smith before captain Smith gave the visitors a comfortable half time lead.

The trimmed down yet powerful eight took a lovely line off a ruck to crash home benefiting from a great Higgins break, Carlos Spencer style off load and strong ball carrying from McGraton.

Some solid play from the likes of Jebb, Higgins, McGrath, McKenna and O’Keefe ensured Clon remained on top after the turn and a brilliant team try eventually saw them pull further ahead.

McKenna made a trade mark break up the middle and found the man proving to be his number one supporter on his shoulder, Ward. The scrum half then found Higgins who set Nolan racing in for his second.

Again Portlaois’ road runner centre kept the game as a contest alive with another fine individual try but Clon turned on the style to ensure victory.

A lovely skip pass from Alan Doyle stretched the home side and saw Clon advance to into the opposition 22 before a slick passing move finished with a Harlem Globtrotter style Tom McGratton pass and Nolan try.

The home centre matched Nolan’s hat trick heroics minutes latter and the hard and overworked 13 men of Clon understandably began to tire in the dying minutes.

But despite tiring and finding themselves under pressure Clon were determined not to concede.

Tackle junkie Jebb got his fix with shuddering hits on the opposition 8, while McGratton, Smith, O’Keefe, Heffernan in particular registered tackles to ensure it remained 36-19 at full time.

Added by Murts February 24, 2009 (12:28PM)

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