John Burke

John Burke

St. Marys ‘B’ 22

Tallaght ‘B’ 15

Tries: John Burke, Ciaran Keane, Rob Hudson

Challenge Match
Templeville Road
20/01/17
Tallaght’s B team took on St. Mary’s in a challenge match on chilly Friday night at Templeville Road. Opting to receive the kick off Tallaght began the game at a furious pace. Playing to a simple game plan surging runs and strong rucking from the likes of Kevin Quinn, Sean Judd, John Burke, Mark Keogh and Arran O’Loughlin took Tallaght deep into the Mary’s half. Andy Rudd and Ray Perry were bossing the game well before sending the ball out to the backs with the centre partnership of Emil Wyrebiak and Vilius Kuklis running strongly. Tallaght dominated possession in the opening stages but were undone by little errors relieving the pressure on Mary’s.

St. Mary’s began to grow into the game and their experience and cohesion from playing together showed as they went over for a try. From the restart, Tallaght were again on the defence, but the pace of the game was starting to take a toll on both sides as penalties were being given away. Fresh legs off the bench helped Tallaght work there way down the pitch to earn a penalty. Ray Perry’s superb kick to the corner put Tallaght in range. From the lineout the maul was set up well and a good drive from Mick O’Dea and Simon Gaskell created a gap for John Burke to go over for the try with help from Mitchell McGrath.

Kev Quinn

Kev Quinn

From the restart, more surging runs from the pack was sucking in defenders creating space out wide for Ciaran Keane, Gary Doyle, Dave Ennis and Rob Hudson to work with. Unfortunately, another unforced error gave Mary’s the ball back and they took advantage by working the ball wide to score another try. Tallaght weren’t done yet as they won a turnover and the ball was worked through the hands for Ciaran Keane to cross the line for Tallaght.

The 2nd half brought some more changes for Tallaght with Ste Kelly and Bryan Donnelly coming into the pack, and the new front row trio of Nigel Foster, Simon Gaskell and Stephen Kelly began to assert some authority in the scrum. Changes in the backs saw John Cowan and Owen Tyrrell join the fray, with John Cowan showing great hands in moving the ball wide. Then Owen Tyrrell set off on a barrelling run up the centre of the park, sending Mary’s defenders flying in all directions as he kept going and going. Unfortunately for Tallaght, in his excitement Tyyrell forgot to keep hold of the ball and the chance was gone.

John Cowan

John Cowan

Another great passage of play from Tallaght sent Rob Hudson over for a try bringing Tallaght’s total for the evening to 15. Unfortunately for Tallaght, Mary’s also scored again with the final score 22-15 to Marys.

Captain Simon Gaskell was proud of him though. “I’m absolutely delighted with our performance tonight, we looked threatening every time we had the ball and the match could have gone either way. We need to work on our defensive structure but that will come as we play more together. If we can put a performance like that together in our 2nd game I can’t wait to see what’s ahead of us as it was huge improvement from our first game. Every single person who stepped out onto that pitch gave it 100%, I’m incredibly proud of all of them. Man of the match is a seriously tough one this week as everyone put their hand up, but I have to go with a joint award to our back rows Kevin Quinn and John Burke whose work rates tonight was phenomenal”.

Tallaght ‘B’

1. Sean Judd
2. Simon Gaskell
3. Nigel Foster
4. Mark Keogh
5. Mitchell Mcgrath
6. Arran O’Loughlin
7. John Burke
8. Kevin Quinn

9. Andy Rudd
10. Ray Perry
11. Dave Ennis
12. Emil Wyrebiak
13. Vilius Kuklis
14. Rob Hudson
15. Gary Doyle

16. Stephen Kelly
17. Mick O’Dea
18. Bryan Donnelly
19. John Cowan
20. Ciaran Keane
21. Owen Tyrell

Sean Judd and Owen Tyrrell

Sean Judd and Owen Tyrrell

RAMPAGE!!!!!!!

RAMPAGE!!!!!!!