De La Salle Palmerston R.F.C. 13

Tallaght R.F.C. 10

Try: Simon Collie
Con: Morgan Farrell
Pen: Morgan Farrell

Metro League Division 7
Kirwan Park
14/10/16

Tallaght took on DLSP on a rainy Friday night in Division 7 of the Metro League. The game was played under lights in Stepaside and the home side took the lead about ten minutes into the first half. They had worked their way down the line with a series of mauls and then were then awarded a penalty, which they kicked to touch. Tallaght stopped the initial maul but DLSP’s experienced pack kept recycling the ball and got over the line. The conversion was missed but DLSP led 5-0.

Other than that though, Tallaght had the better of the first twenty minutes and they had the home team camped in their own twenty two. Eventually they got their reward when full back Simon Collie took a clearance kick near the half-way line and ran it back down the sideline. He beat several defenders on a mazy run to score a superb try under the posts. Morgan Farrell converted the try and added on a penalty for Tallaght to lead 10-5 at half-time.

In the second half, Tallaght’s performance level dropped and they were undermining themselves with poor decision-making across the park. DLSP began to up the pressure and they had Tallaght trapped in their own twenty two facing wave after wave of attack. Finally their pack seized the ball and they drove over for another unconverted try to level the game at ten-all. Then after more pressure they won a penalty fifteen minutes from time which they kicked to lead 13-10. DLSP could have finished the game off but as the rain poured down, Tallaght’s defence held out with winger Ciaran Rudd making several crucial tackles. 13-10 was the final score with Tallaght having to settle for a losing bonus point for their night’s work.

Director of Rugby Luke Tyrrell was gutted for his team. “That’s twice now we’ve lost by a single score on the road, so it’s frustrating. We got a great start in the game but we left a few good scoring opportunities behind, which ultimately came back to haunt us. The second half was scrappy and our decision-making let us down, which allowed DLSP to take a grip of the game. I couldn’t fault the effort of the lads and they tackled their hearts out at the end to at least ensure we got a losing bonus point. It’s tough to lose another narrow one, but we’ll learn from this and will take it into the next game away to Blackrock”.

 

Man of the match: Ciaran Rudd

 

Tallaght RFC

15. Simon Collie
14. Gavin McKeon
13. Stephen Heaney
12. David Clarke
11. Ciaran Rudd
10. Morgan Farrell
9. Andew Rudd

8. Adam Nolan
7. Alan Sower
6. Jack Russell
5. Paul Cunningham (Captain)
4. Joe Ivers
3. Tony McManus
2. Ken McGovern
1. Declan Malone

Replacements

16. Andrew Caswell
17. Sean Judd
18. Simon Gaskell
19. Kevin Quinn
20. Mitchell McGrath
21. Emil Wyrebiak
22. Gary Doyle

Jim O’Connor ©

Photos: Anne Kavanagh