Parkmore 28 - 11 Stillorgan<br />
<br />
J4 League - 17 Oct 09<br />
<br />
Finally the J4 season got started but unfortunately the result didn’t go our<br />
way. To start Pete has really put the pressure on Johnny Belton for worst<br />
team manager in Stillorgan history by this week losing the jerseys (we don’t<br />
even expect a medical bag or water bottles anymore)....don\'t worry Pete the<br />
only way can be up after a performance like that.<br />
<br />
The game started with both sides not looking great but Parkmore seemed more<br />
ready, we had to reshuffle the team due to Shane being called up to the J2\'s<br />
at short notice which lead to us having to play uncontested scrums.<br />
Stillorgan once again started in the now traditional sluggish mode but we<br />
had still opportunities to score with a difficult penalty from the left side<br />
of the pick which was missed. Parkmore then came out attacking from the 22<br />
drop out and made their way into our 22, from a ruck Parkmore broke free and<br />
ran under the posts without being tackled 7-0 to Parkmore after 8mins. From<br />
the restart Parkmore gave a penalty away which we scored 7-3 Parkmore.<br />
Another attack from Parkmore had them in our 22 which then led to another<br />
soft line break try, conversion was missed - 12-3 to Parkmore after about<br />
15mins.<br />
Stillorgan then attacked again and inside the Parkmore 22 another penalty<br />
was awarded to Stillorgan, 12-6 to Parkmore...the ref was getting upset at<br />
the amount of penalties been given away at this point. Soon after Parkmore<br />
were attacking outside our 22 and Tricky gave away a penalty, the ref wanted<br />
to lay a marker down and Tricky was off to the bin for 10mins, at this point<br />
Stillorgan finally came into the game and our tackling was up and Parkmore<br />
could not score in this 10mins. Soon after Tricky came back Parkmore gave<br />
away a penalty around the 22 and the ref sent their No 8 to the bin...the<br />
penalty went slightly wide put Parkmore panicked knocked the ball on but<br />
unfortunately when attempting to pick the ball up to place it over the line<br />
the ball got knocked on, Stillorgan got a 5m scrum for the original knock on<br />
and Tricky made a break only to get his foot stuck in the ground which led<br />
to a girl like scream and Stillorgan lost their scrum half. Bull then came<br />
on to play scrum half, Stillorgan were then given another scrum as<br />
Stillorgan were going forward when the ref stopped the game out of<br />
concern...from that scrum the ball went wide and the winger Colm scored a<br />
try, conversion was missed. 12-11 Parkmore. A bit more play but nothing of<br />
note and it was half time.<br />
<br />
At half time we were in a good position only a point down, some changes were<br />
made and were started the second half. Second half started with both sides<br />
doing a bit of attacking but then about 5 mins in from outside our 22 a side<br />
step from Parkmore and they were under the posts again. 19-11 Parkmore. Soon<br />
after this Stillorgan gave a penalty away under the posts, 22-11 Parkmore.<br />
At some stage around now I think Bull went off injured so we had lost<br />
another scrum half. After this Stillorgan got back in the game and attacked<br />
the Parkmore line a number of times, Parkmore kept giving away penalties<br />
while we were attack and this gave us a number of 5m lineouts and our maul<br />
was working well but we could not get over the line with the ref missing<br />
some serious incidents of the maul being pulled down, a penalty was given to<br />
Parkmore just short of their line for holding on and they got to clear their<br />
lines, soon after their hooker got sin binned. No scores for either side<br />
during this time. With about 10mins to go Parkmore attacked and on the 5m<br />
line Tim put in a tackle but was judged off side and the ref sent him to the<br />
bin, Parkmore took a scrum and after a few phases scored a try. 29-11 to<br />
Parkmore. The last 10 mins were played with Stillorgan attacking try to<br />
atleast get a bonus point put it was not to be our day.<br />
<br />
Positives:<br />
<br />
We won all our own lineouts.<br />
<br />
We scored a try through the backs<br />
<br />
We came back into the game for the final 20mins of the first half and could<br />
have easily been leading at half time.<br />
<br />
Problems:<br />
<br />
Again we gave a team a two try lead within 15mins. But in short standing<br />
around at rucks cost us two easy tries at the start, our tackling was poor<br />
for most of the game and we lacked intensity.<br />
<br />
We gotta put this one behind us and start looking to the next game, Parkmore<br />
was never going to be easy but I think we can all admit that the way we lost<br />
was not acceptable for what we want to achieve this season.  We have two<br />
weeks to try put this right and get our season started.<br />
<br />
<br />
For the Parish<br />
<br />
Match Report by Mark Cooling