Stillorgan 41-14 Unidare
J3 Friendly - Sep 16, 2007
First friendly out of the way with a comprehensive win for Stillorgan. A great turnout for both teams with 8 subs for each and a great day for a match.
Stillorgan started very well getting a lineout after the kick off. Stillorgan won the lineout and mauled Unidare over the line form 10 meters. The try was converted by Garrett who had a good day with the boot. (7-0)
Then followed 10 minutes of the forwards slugging it out. A lot of line outs with both teams struggling to get their own lineout going. Then Stillorgan got clean ball off the top and got the backs moving again. Chubby made a break and scored under the posts. Gar stepped up again to convert. (14-0)
Unidare capitalised on poor concentration form Stillorgan and scored a try immediately. (14-7)
Shortly afterwards Stillorgan got a penalty which Gar converted. (17-7)
Another period of forward play with both sides still struggling with their own set pieces.
Both sets of forwards were beginning to tire. Stillorgan got a scrum and after some quick hands and feet from the backs Mark got in at the corner. (22-7)
Shortly afterwards the backs got the ball again and after a great break by Chubby he ran straight at the fullback and drew the tackle and released the ball to an appreciative Gar who scored under the posts and converted. (29-7)
The forwards started to get the set piece together and after two good lineout wins they mauled the ball over the line. Gar converted again. (36-7)
HALF TIME
There was a lot of changes at half time from both sides. This resulted in a very disjointed second half with a lot of mistakes and broken play. This was probably more of the J4 side Unidare were expecting. The Stillorgan lineout functioned much better in the second half winning all it’s own ball and thanks to Doddsy’s work stealing two of theirs.
Unidare were the first to score. (36-14)
There was some good work by the backs with Keavan even getting a few passes form Gar. Stillorgan got a late try from Mark in the corner after a mazy run through the Unidare defence. (41-14)
Match report by Gerard Cregan