Stillorgan 22 - Terenure 7
J3 Cup - Apr 01, 2007
Well where do I start, First of all I would like to thank all the Squad including subs who played and did not get on for giving their all yesterday. I was a very proud man to Lead such a great team to the best Performance in my opinion that we have had since I have been at the Club.
Well we agreed on Thurs that the Forwards would be on the Pitch at 1.30pm so we could work on our set pieces. At 1.30 there were only 4/5 players there and one of the second rows was late. Lads if we are going to give this Cup a real rattle we need players if cannot make training to be sure they are there in Good time before the game!! Our Lineout was the one area that a mess yesterday that we stopped kicking our penalties to touch. Anyway no more giving out as this was good day.
Terenure turned up with a physio, 2 coaches looked like 2 teams and were there an hour and half early. They had a big crowd there as well with a video- got the feeling they thought they just had to show up. To the Match we lost the toss and had to play with the hill in second half but unusually the wind was actually going up the Hill. Don't what it is but again we did not start well. They were all over us the first 15 mins they tried to run everything, our defense just about held out. We could not win a lineout for love or money ours or theres so we were continually Defending!!! They got a lineout just outside our 22 I think there player actually laughed at us when catching the ball,!! and Mauled it all the way to the Tryline - they converted 7-0 omens were not looking good!!
They continued to attack, they chipped ahead which was touched down for a 22 out. Padraig tried to take a quick one looked like they turned it over, seemed to a bit of mellee and then Ross came from no where to shoulder their player on the ground. He got a 10 minute rest for this!! We managed to hold on and then towards the end of the half the tide turned. We stopped kicking to touch the pack was playing like a team possessed with brillant rucking and to be fair Backs were rucking too. Danny, shane were very prominent with Charles putting in his tackles, johnny was taking it up. They were continually infringing and ended up getting a player sinbinned.
The Forwards continued to charge into them down the left- shane made a half break and with great Support by Danny who scored a lovely try. We did not convert to leave the score at halftime 7-5- you could see Terenure were shook.
2nd half we played up the hill but the wind was behind us. One of our first kicks was kicked over the Dead Ball line from just outside the 22. Finn like it seems every other first year cup match got injured getting a nasty cut over his eye. He had to go off but thankfully rejoined us later all glued up!!! Padraig moved into first Centre and did a great job making big hits and taking on the ball well. We played in their half which given our tackling and forward play was a very good ploy. Pressure led to a scrum for us 5ms out, we actually lost it. With new players in the front row it is another area we need to look at- Alan had to pull out just before the game with a sore Neck. It was a scrum to them ball squirted out and under fierce pressure from Danny, I think bull got the touchdown, Mark converted to leave the score 12-7.
We were putting the Gick under alot of pressure in the backs and they were starting to Panic- they threw one wild pass which bounced nicely into Hops hands he ran for the tryline which was quite hard to see. Hops who was not sure it was rugby or American football bounced the ball over the line- i think it got knocked out of his hands, Garrett touched down straight away. Ref gave us the try!! We continued to pile on the pressure, Forwards were much better at filling out space in defence and not commiting too many bodies to lost rucks so the Gick did not know what to do. Gick were putting under alot of pressure that their 6 reacted by headbutting Mark in front of the ref getting sent off.
Bull made one great break in the half where he kicked ahead putting the Gick under pressure in the corner. From continous driving we spread the ball wide to Marcin who had a stormer, he broke a few tackles then off loaded to Charles to score on the right. This left the score 22-7. Terenure were trying to run from everywhere now but our Defense was immense and they never looked like scoring!! We held on for a Momentous victory - Next we have Bective who beat Suttonians 28-8.
Stats
Our Throw
31% - needs alot work
Their throw 23%
Overall 27%
Rucks
Our Ball 87% excellent
Their ball 33% - very good
Overall 2nd Phase 55%
Overall a real controlled Aggressive performance, we have a real chance in this cup so cannot let our Intensity drop, we do not know what Team Bective will put out as cup teams are often v different to the League teams!! We need to get as many people down Training as possible this week as we have plenty to work on!! We need to win our lineouts and work on our scrums.
Our discipline was pretty good did not give away too many penalties in our own half!! Defence after the first 10 mins was excellent - Forwards well done on spreading out around the pitch, Pillar/Post.
Match report by Garrett Fanning