2nd XV — Leinster Branch Blitz Clontarf RFC
02 November 2003
With a depleted team fielded due to injuries and trips to a penal colony, the Stillorgan seconds took to the task of playing experimental and expansive rugby in Clontarf. Things did not start out well for us prior to all games, as (acting) captain Tom Treacy lost all three tosses, and we ended up playing against a gale force wind for all three games. Any statisticians in the club work out the probability of doing what Tom managed? And I thought he was good at it.....
Anyway, first up were the aspiring doctors from RCSI. The wind played an important part and we could not get farther than their 22 for most of the game. They scored a few lucky tries, and managed a few more in the final minutes while the referee checked his sundial, to win 6 - 0.
Next up were the bankers from AIB. We started to find our rhythm in this game, and made massive headway into the gale force wind. Despite being camped up on the 5 metre line (AIB's) for most of the final 5 minutes, we just could not make it over the line. Final score was 5 - 0.
Our final test was against Clontarf. The Clontarf forwards were very big, but they were well matched in the ruck and maul by the Stillorgan forwards. The Stillorgan backs also began to gain in confidence, and this was their best performance of the day. Unfortunately, Clontarf scored a few breakaway tries, and the referee seemed to have lost his watch again, and they won 4 - 0.
While we lost all three games, the try count belies the amount of effort and hard work that was put in by all who represented Stillorgan in Clontarf. There is a basis for a fine team here, and the lessons were learned as the games progressed. Overall, a good team performance - no slacking; with Useful Dave Keegan in the forwards (who also took most of the drop outs - watch out Ronan O'Gara) and new starter Luke Davis giving good accounts of themselves.