Stillorgan 13 - Skerries RFC 11
J3 League - Nov 27, 2005
Well what can I say we showed the good and bad parts of our game in this match. It had everything at times it felt like we were playing against 16 men and we showed Fantastic heart and spirit to come back and win this game from Behind. We lost the toss they elected to play up the Hill in the first half. We played a lot of the first half down in their half but could not put any points on the board, every time we got into a good position we managed to give away a stupid penalty - we gave away far too many penalties which left them off the hook when they were under pressure. The one time they got into our half their wing forward made a break - got tackled looked like he knocked it on but then for the umpteenth time in the match we went over the top to give away a penalty which they converted to make the score 3-0. We nearly scored in the first half when Carlos made a break and then passed the ball to Me (I say above my shoulder) which I dropped with the line at my mercy.
The forwards were doing excellent in the lineout and the half hour they spent on
it before the game showed. Dave and Ross who had never jumped in the Lineout
before did excellent. The only problem being the time it took to make the
lineout calls which the ref gave a couple of free kicks against us.
We nearly scored a couple more times, when Nigel got stopped just short of the
line on one of his bullocking runs. The Ball got to ground but the Ref somehow
gave them a scrum 5m from their line. From this Carlos tried to block down the
kicker but the Outhalf in a theatrical dive got Carlow Sin binned. This led to a
bit of confusion in Midfield while we tried to organise who stepped into 1st
centre, Stephen moved into Outhalf with Patrick into 1st centre. Skerries
spotting our confusion ran at first centre and broke the line where their first
centre drew the full back for their full back to score to leave the score at
8-0. We again camped in their half, missed a couple of penalties and nearly
scored a couple of times, I was held up on the line once. Every time we put
pressure on them we gave away Stupid penalties with far too much talking back to
the ref and going over the Top. The Penalty count at halftime was 12-2 in favour
of Skerries!! We were 8-0 down at half time playing up the hill.
Second half kicked off and again we spent most of it camped in their half. The
ref finally gave us a penalty which Stephen just about scrapped over to make the
score 8-3. Again we spend a lot of time in their half without really
penetrating. We made a number of impact subs bringing on Frank and Johnny who
both had stormers. ON 20 minutes the ball went right on half way to Garrett who
seeing 2 props in front of him decided to go around the outside of them and
inside the winger. I dived for the corner but a great tackle knocked me into
touch on the line for a 5m lineout to Skerries. A great steal by Dave I think at
the lineout and drive by Forwards and we got over on the right hand touch. No
sure who got the touchdown, it was what the forwards deserved.
Stephen missed the conversion to leave the score 8-8. They then won the ball
back and started to maul us down the field, they were well organised. The ref
for not the first time in the match gave Skerries a penalty none of us could
understand. He penalised Bull for hitting a maul twice( leaving it and then
hitting it again?????) They converted the penalty for undeserved 11-8 lead with
13 minutes to go. From here on we showed some great Spirit which was reward by a
fantastic run by Bull up the right hand side just when he looked like he was
going to be bundled into Touch he gave a lovely inside pass to Johnny who was
storming up on his inside to score to make the score 13-11.
We played sensibly the last 10 minutes kicking the ball into their 22 to make
them run it back at us and trust in our defence. With just 3 minutes to go we
did a lovely kick and chase to the right hand corner, they tried a quick throw
in which Frank intercepted to score. The ref did not give us the try because he
said the quick throw did not benefit them??????? (baffling decision number #).
We held onto the end to win a great match and to seal a great comeback.
Match report by Garrett Fanning