Clontarf 5 - 11 Stillorgan<br />
<br />
J5 League - 10 Oct 09<br />
<br />
Another great Saturday morning for the J5 squad. It was an early start for<br />
our first league game of the season and an away trip to Clontarf. Nearly<br />
everyone was at the grounds for 11:30 to warm up for our 12:30 kickoff.<br />
<br />
The pitch was hard and uneven and the goal posts were not square but this is<br />
on the north side after all. <br />
<br />
The day started with a 20 minute lecture from the referee on who’s<br />
responsibility it is to declare uncontested scrums and how we should be<br />
coaching scrumaging. I was looking around to see if Garrett was available.<br />
Apparently it’s the referees decision and scrum machines are the work of the<br />
devil. In the end both clubs decided it was uncontested and that’s how it<br />
went for the match.<br />
<br />
Though Clontarf had a number of faces familiar from their pre-season visit<br />
to Bird Ave there were a lot of new people out for them. This reduced their<br />
average age form 50 to somewhere about 30. Stillorgan in a sporting gesture<br />
tried to bring the average age towards the 30 mark. <br />
<br />
Clontarf were much relieved to see we did not have the same wingers or full<br />
back and this was a very different game from our previous encounter.<br />
Clontarf were a much more fluid team and controlled the game better.<br />
<br />
On 8 minutes Clontarf missed and easy penalty but made up for it on 15<br />
minutes. With some poor defending from Stillorgan and 2 missed tackles the<br />
Clontarf inside centre crashed over the line. This was unconverted to give<br />
them a 5-0 lead.<br />
<br />
Stillorgan got a chance on 27 minutes but the penalty drifted wide.<br />
<br />
The half finished 5-0<br />
<br />
A quick turnaround and some substitutions in the pack. Stillorgan then got<br />
on the score board after 8 minutes with a penalty from Mark. 5-3<br />
<br />
On 17 minutes Mark converted another Penalty to give us 5-6. <br />
<br />
This was very deserved as since the start of the half Stillorgan kept<br />
Clontarf pinned inside their half. Though things got a little frayed at<br />
times discipline was good. The referee did not help matters with both teams<br />
getting increasingly frustrated with him. <br />
<br />
On 27 minutes Clontarf had a penalty inside our 22 but failed to convert. <br />
<br />
Clontarf had a long spell inside out 22 in the last 10 minutes. But good<br />
defending around the ruck and some poor decision making on the Clontarf Team<br />
and even worse refereeing Clontarf could not able to get over the line.<br />
Then Eoghan Kennedy playing at full back intercepted a pass and took off. He<br />
got caught inside the Clontarf 22 but was not held. He regained his feet and<br />
crossed over the line for his first try for the club. Unfortunately the<br />
conversion was missed but the game was won. Clontarf 5 Stillorgan 11.<br />
<br />
Queue a very happy team and tears from a very proud captain.<br />
<br />
Positives:<br />
<br />
A good win to start the league.<br />
<br />
A good overall performance. The work rate picked up for the second half.<br />
Some good defending through out. Defence at the scrum was good and we did<br />
not see their back row make any significant ground. Out fitness was not a<br />
deciding factor in the game. Players stayed well but there is room for<br />
improvement.<br />
<br />
Areas needing work:<br />
<br />
Decision making. A number of times people went on their own and got turned<br />
over. Inside the red zone we need to clear the ball every time. Eoghan had a<br />
good day at full back. He cleared the ball well and then put pressure on<br />
them immediately. But when he was off for 20 minutes during the middle of<br />
the game we lost our composure.<br />
<br />
Man of the Match.<br />
<br />
There were 3 strong Contenders for this. Mark Waters had another good day at<br />
outhalf. He kept them pinned inside their half for a lot of the game. Eoghan<br />
Kennedy played well at full back with some good catches and keeping them<br />
pinned back. But I think Ross Martin’s work rate and tackle count on his<br />
debut was a big factor in this win. My vote goes to Ross Martin.<br />
<br />
Both teams agreed that over the two games I was the better referee.<br />
<br />
Training Tuesday & Thursday. The team will be picked for Thursday night. Let<br />
Fidel know if you are or are not available. <br />
<br />
Yours in Rugby,<br />
<br />
Match Report by Gerard Cregan