Stillorgan 44-5 Dublin University
J3 League - Oct 21, 2007
Report 1
Great win yesterday boys. The effort was good. Lets keep it going and put Suttonians away the weekend after next in the same fashion.
Game kicked off with Stillorgan kicking off into a slight breeze and up the hill. Some good early pressure should have yielded at least one try. The scrum and linout went well early on with Johnny and Nigel dominant in the front row. We got 2 early penalties which Timmy slotted over to give an early 6 - 0 lead. However we took the foot off the gas and let Trinity back into it mid way through the 1st half. They got a try and missed the conversion to leave the score 6 - 5.
Stillorgan struggled a bit to get out of their own half and the penalty count was poor. Trinity really should have slotted a penalty or 2 to go into the lead but their kicker was poor.
We were a bit panicky and impatient at this stage of the game. We wont dominate every team for 80 mins and we need to learn to be patient and go through the phases and keep the penalty count down.
Half time - 6 - 5 to Stillorgan.
Stillorgan stormed into the scond half playing with the hill and a slight wind. Brian Shanahan came on at half time and early into the 2nd half Alan Fortune made his appearance for Nigel. Mark Harnett kept the blue and gold of Tipp flying with an early try. The try count came quick and fast with some really good team efforts with everyone having an input - the Shanahan brothers (Danny and Padraig) added one each, Garret got in on the action and Doddsy (despite a bad knee) crashed over the line. Timmy added a few conversions - I'm losing count at this stage (sums were never my strong point) !! but one great one from the right side of the field sailed between the posts.
Pat Fitz showed some Dara O'Sé like fielding from kickoffs and odds were on offer on the side line as to which one he would drop. I think Johnny Plunkett owes the team and supporters a round of beer as he lost the bet !!
Donnacha made an appearance in the second half and also took on some good ball.
Overall a great team win with everyone having an input.
Positives
- Score line
- Team tries
- Scrum
- Linout
- Pat Fitz's catches off re starts
Negatives
Overall highlight of the weekend Not the win or the score but Franks impression of a windmill on saturday - if only Tony could see it .. hed have been proud
See ye tmw night boys
Match report by Richard McMahon
Report 2
Stillorgan took on the students of Trinity in Fortress Bird Avenue. We won the toss and played up the hill in the 1st half. The game started off as we would have wished it too. We had plenty of ball and good running lines gave several options to score. Unfortunately like last week the final pass looked to be a little forced resulting in knock on's and forward passes. After several onslaughts at their line with no success we got our first points from the Boot of Timmy which was followed by another giving us a 6 - 0 lead. We deserved more and nearly got punished for thinking we were further ahead. Trinity managed to get into our hale with a well placed kick off gathered by us but turned over in the ruck. Trinity recycled the ball and moved quickly wide left leaving their winger one on one with our last man in defence. A good show and go from them saw Trinity scoring in the corner. the conversion was missed leaving Stillorgan narrowly in front 6 - 5. Trinity then got their best phase of the game going resulting in a lot good defence from Stillorgan. They got 3 penalties in the 22 all of which were missed by their Kicker. Half time came and still 6 - 5 Stillorgan
What happened next will go down in Stillorgan folklore. All the forced passed from the 1st half came good our 1st of 7 tries came from a good break form Danny in the back row breaking a couple of tackles for number 13 to cut a good angle and create space for Mark H to score under the posts. Converted by Tim 13 - 5. Very soon after another try was scored by magnificent interplay from backs and forwards alike. we went through several phases and another great line of running saw a previous captain score under the posts. Stillorgan had now moved form 2nd gear to 6th. Everything they tried came off. this resulted in Two tries for Padraig (playing his preferred position of no 7) one for Danny, one for Doddsy and one I'm going to give to Johnny Belton as he does a lot of good work which goes unnoticed due to the superstars we have in the back row. Final score 44 - 5
Main good points of match
- tries in 2nd half
- Pat Fitzgerald brilliantly controlling all kick off's after our tries.
- Forwards and backs combining as well as the all blacks do between world cups
- have to mention Danny's try which he started with his fake punt and charge giving it over his head to padraig who gave it from around his back to another person who also gave a showboat of a pass only for Danny to collect it from 5 yards out and deservedly score. sending the Stillorgan faithful into raptures on the side line.
- Our scrum was dominant all day
- all 3 of our back row got on the scoresheet which shows what type of game we played.
- Timmy's place kicking including a conversion from the right touchline. Box kicking also very good
- both teams supporting the other from the sidelines - we had 20is supporters on Saturday & Sunday
Points to improve on
- as always too many penalties. in a half we won 38 - 0 the penalty count was still 11 - 3 against us.
- Listen to the ref - most of the 11 penalties were for the same offence. coming in at the side. More often than not the 1st person did it correctly only for two idiots to do it incorrectly.
- how the hell is Shane kenny going to get back into the team ??
Over all an excellent win and a statement of the way we know we can play. Well don't to Players, Coaches and helpful supporters. Keep up the momentum as winning does become a habit.
Match report by Johnny Plunkett