Stillorgan 11 - Clontarf 18
J3 League - Jan 18, 2004
Another bonus point but no moral victories here I'm afraid. With the wind and hill behind them SRFC took off limply and went a converted try down after 5 mins. Despite this SRFC lifted themselves up and pulled 3 points back with a penalty from Mattie. With 30 mins gone SRFC were to be stretched by the Clontarf back line and got in for another 5 points in the corner. Another penatly from Mattie grabbed us another 3 points. Frustration began to set in with some of the refs decisions and SRFC were to trail 12-6 at half time.
SRFC came out all guns blazing in the 2nd half with some trademark pick and go from the pack which pinned "the turf" in their 22 for long periods in the 2nd half. SRFC were eventually to be rewarded with an unconverted try from Rossie O'Donovan. Again despite my efforts to tell the ref what I truly thought of him SRFC played some great Rugby during the the first 20 mins of the 2nd half and were unlucky not to take the lead during this period. With SRFC trailing by a single point at this stage and looking good the Turf sneaked through a penalty and a drop goal to give them a 7 point leverage. Try as SRFC might they were not to score again despite some good performances across the pitch.
One postive from the game was a much improved line out from the pack and its from this kind of improvement we can now build on to win our last 2 games of the league.
Men of the match - Rossie in the forwards and Mattie in the backs.