Tallaght R.F.C. 27

Tries: Ellen Crotty 2, Megan Fogarty 2, Seana Greenhalgh
Con: Aisling Pyke

CYM R.F.C. 17

Women’s League Division 4
Pitch 100, Firhouse
17/02/2019

Tallaght took on the bottom placed CYM needing to avoid defeat in order to avoid finishing bottom of Division 4 themselves. They had a bad start though when CYM took advantage of some poor tackling to score the first two tries of the game, converting one to take a 12-0 lead.  However Tallaght got back into the game off the back of a great run from a scrum from Roisin Doyle who beat several tacklers in a run that took her deep in the CYM twenty two. Tallaght kept the pressure on and eventually Ellen Crotty forced her way over in the corner for a try to make it 12-5.

Tallaght were cooking now and almost straight from the kick-off full back Megan Fogarty broke out of her own twenty two and went the length of the pitch to score an outstanding individual try.  Aisling Pyke made the conversion and now the game was tied at 12 all. CYM hit back with another try another some basic pick and drives but Tallaght countered again when a great run by Pyke put Fogarty away for her second try of match to make it 17-all at half-time.

In the second half Tallaght had a strong wind at their backs and they made smart use of it with Pyke pinning CYM back in their own half with several excellent tactical kicks. CYM tried to play their way out of the their twenty two but Tallaght’s defence led by Lisa Kennedy, Karen Corrigan, Angelika Gertz and Anne Kavanagh held firm. Eventually the pressure told and after strong runs by Vikcy Cobbe and Martina Fitzpatrick, Shauna Power popped the ball to Seana Greenhalgh who forced her way over for her first try for the club to give Tallaght the lead for the first time in the game at 22-17.

The game was still in the balance and CYM came hard at Tallaght again and looked like scoring but the awesome Ellen Crotty made a tackle to force the CYM winger into touch to save the day. Another dangerous threat from CYM was resolved by Lisa O’Connell making a smart interception and then carrying the ball to safety. Then Ellen Crotty was set free down the wing after some smart passing by Pyke, Kavanagh and Jacinta Purcell. Crotty showed her power to brush off a couple of tackles and then sprint clear to score under the posts.

The conversion was missed but Tallaght now had a commanding lead at 27-17 lead. CYM kept coming at them but Tallaght defended confidently and the game ended with Ash “The Smash” Pyke forcing a CYM player into touch with a typically emphatic tackle.

Tallaght coach Adam Nolan was proud of his teams recovery after a bad start. “Our defence wasn’t good enough at the start with too many people not committing to the tackle. But we bounced back and scored some great tries to be level at half-time. We used the wind really smartly in the second half and Aisling Pyke’s brilliant kicking put us in the right areas of the pitch.”

“I want to thank the whole squad who left everything out on the pitch today. It was incredibly tough to pick a player of the match as so many players put their hands up. Vicky Cobbe was relentless in her carrying and Roisin Doyle was immense in carrying, tackling and winning a couple of crucial turnovers on the ground.”

“In the backs Ash Pyke ran the show with aplomb and Ellen Crotty and Megan Fogarty both showed their quality with a brace of fine tries each. But our player of the match is Seana Greenhalgh who scored her first try for the club today. Seana only took up the sport this season and she’s worked incredibly hard on her game and this was definitely her best game for the club so far.”

“The league has been tough this year but it was great to finish on a positive note and now we’re looking forward to the cup which starts in a few weeks.”

Woman of the match: Seana Greenhalgh

Tallaght

15. Megan Fogarty
14. Angelika Gertz
13. Ellen Crotty
12. Anne Kavanagh
11. Lisa O’Connell
10. Aisling Pyke
9. Shauna Power

1. Martina Fitzpatrick (Captain)
2. Lisa Kennedy
3. Karen Corrigan
4. Seana Greenhalgh
5. Vicky Cobbe
6. Roisin Doyle

Replacements:

16. Jacinta Purcell

Report: Jim O’Connor
Photos: Cathy Ready/Anne Kavanagh