Stillorgan RFC 0 - Lansdowne 36
J4 League - Jan 13, 2007
Having gone through warm ups and formations in blustery but dry conditions, the J4 brotherhood took to the field with ominous cloulds looming overhead.
Lansdowne won the toss and opted to play down the hill with the wind at their backs.
Niall kicked off and we got a taste of how the next 20 minutes were going to go as it was kicked straight back down the pitch and into our 22. They were awarded a scrum and the ball went out wide to put the ball over for their first try and conversion.
The second try was more of the same. The third was scored from a very good lineout move which they turned back out to the touchline, scoring in the corner. This too was converted. Any kicker would have been pleased with it, but given the wind it was impressive, but was to be the last conversion made. Their fourth try was scored from open play.
At this stage heads were starting to go down, but we somehow got back into the game with some good hard driving from the forwards. Pig ball was really the only way we could get ground, but it was sometimes a little rushed. Lansdowne scored a fifth try before half time.
In the second half with the wind at our backs and the hill in our favour, the weather deteriorated even more. What had been squally showers, now became a driving rain, making the ball seem like a bar of soap and was very difficult to handle. Niall never had much time with the ball to kick or pass as Lansdowne seemed to get up very quickly, but we made a good fight of it. Lansdowne when they had the ball worked their way up the field slowly, but our defence was now well organised. The second half was punctuated with handling errors and poor discipline on both sides, resulting in yet another yellow card. The game continued with more of the same until eventually Lansdowne put over their last try in the final minute.
The J4s played with spirit and given that Lansdowne had already got a bonus point before the 20 minute mark, heads stayed up and we battled hard. We played for the full 80 minutes and it was a shame not to have any points to show for our time in their half.
Match report by Michael Kirwan