UCD 20 - 26 Stillorgan
J2 League - 14 Nov 09
The last game of the first rotation in the J2 league took in a blustery UCD this afternoon. Stillorgan arrived aware of the fact that playing on the new all weather surface would present it\'s own challenges. At first look this morning many people would have been excused for assuming the game would be called off but the pitch lived up to its name and the game would definitely go ahead. When the time came to start the warm up and assemble on the field the rain eased off leaving the teams having to contend with only the wind.
The warm up seemed very shaky and no player seemed to be completely focused on the job in hand. Whether it was the new surroundings or the elements things didn\'t seem as together as they could have been. UCD won the toss and opted to play into the string wind in the first half. With their younger, possibly fitter, side UCD were running everything, from all positions on the field! This put Stillorgan under pressure as we struggled to come to get up to the tempo of the game.
Stillorgan didn\'t loose shape or confidence and strong pressure in the centres forced the UCD outside centre to fumble allowing Finian Finn gain possession and put on the afterburners. Despite the best efforts of covering UCD players Finn coasted over under the posts allowing an easy conversion for stand in kicker Shane O\'Brien/ Stillorgan lead the game 0-7 and to be fair it was probably against the run of play.
Stillorgan regathered from the kick off and kicked deep. This, despite temporarily clearing pressure, allowed the UCD players use their pace and agility to counterattack. Stillorgan managed to get possession deep in the UCD 22 but knocked on giving the hosts a scrum from which to clear the pressure. Excellent openside from Michael MacMahon blocking the ball allowed Maurice Ryan to gather the ball on the deck, quick ball and good hands put Keavan Jones in for a try. This was also converted putting Stillorgan in a position that maybe didn\'t do the game justice.
Stillorgan took control then and started putting their superior ability into practise. Maurice Ryan and Simon Dodd turned over some ball in the lineout set the platform for an excellent pack performance for the remainder of the first half. Winning good lineout ball outside the 22 Stillorgan set up a maul, what started off as good territory gained turned into a full on assault on the UCD line, advantage was given but Ronan \'Bull\' McCabe seized the opportunity to score Stillorgan 3rd try. As was inevitable the conversion as missed, it would be too much for 100% kicking to exist without Timmy Twomey!
As the countdown began to the half time break Stillorgan earned a series of penalties that put them in a good position 5 metres out from the UCD line. yet another excellently constructed maul allowed the pack force their way over the win with player coach Simon Dodd robbing the ball from Danny Shanahan to claim the try for himself. Despite missing the previous kick Shane O\'Brien converted from an awkward angle to leave Stillorgan well in control. A penalty for UCD scored earlier in the half was all they registered leaving the half time score at 3-26.
Stillorgan now had to work hard into the stiff wind. It proved tougher than anyone could have thought and a series of penalties allowed UCD get back into contention. Their break through finally came when they scored a try in the corner with was converted. Stillorgan conceded another penalty which UCD scored. The score was now 13-26 with what seemed a bonus point win in the back now looking shaky.
Stillorgan worked hard but UCD using the wind to their advantage. UCD once again exerted pressure on the Stillorgan line with substitute Alan McDonald feeling the wrath of the ref and getting a yellow card. From the pressure UCD scored a try which was converted leaving Stillorgan in a very dangerous position. Thankfully that was the end of the scoring and Stillorgan ended a very difficult second half on top of the league.
Stillorgan play Bective on 12th December in a massive game for the team. Everything that is done now is building toward this. The game on Thursday against Sea Point will prove a an excellent warm up game for what will be titanic battle in Donnybrook.
Report by Shane O\'Brien