Ken McGovern

UCD 10

Tallaght 1sts 31

Try: Alan Moore, Dave Clarke, Rob Hudson, Karl Segrave, Aaron Shanahan
Con: Rob Hudson 3

Metro League Division 7
Belfield
23/02/2019

Tallaght took on UCD looking to get back to winning ways after losing their place at the top of the table. They started well with the pack making constant ground before lock Alan Moore broke through for a try which Rob Hudson converted to give Tallaght a 7-0 lead. Tallaght were dominating possession and their backline was working well together to create chances out wide which were just failing on the final pass.

From a botched Tallaght lineout near the UCD line, the relieving kick was fielded by Hudson who counter-attacked superbly beating several tacklers on a mazy run. He was stopped just inside the UCD twenty two but the ball was moved to out-half Dave Clarke who broke through two tackles to go over for a second Tallaght try. Hudson converted to make it 14-0.

From the restart a misjudged pass put Tallaght under pressure but they held firm on their line with hooker Ken McGovern making several dominant tackles to see off the threat. Then after strong running from Simon Collie and Karl Segrave, Hudson went in for his own try in the left hand corner to make the half-time score 19-0. Tallaght kept going in the second half and Segrave raced away for a fine try to make it 24-0. Then the game went into something of a lull after that and Tallaght make some errors to leave themselves trapped in their own half. UCD eventually took advantage and got over for a try to make it 24-5.

But this stirred Tallaght into action and another excellent break from Clarke looked sure to create another try but his offload was knocked on. However it was only a brief respite as another good break from Collie put replacement winger Aaron Shanahan away for another fine try which Hudson converted again to make it 31-5. UCD scored the final try of the match to make the final score 31-10 to Tallaght.

Tallaght coach Tom Leigh was happy to get back to winning ways. “It wasn’t a perfect performance and there are things we still need to improve on but it was a big improvement and we played some great rugby. We now need to back this up in the next two weeks and beat AIB at home and Bective away and then we’ll definitely be in the final. To do that we’ll need the whole squad to pitch in and train well over the next two weeks.”

Man of the match: David Clarke

Tallaght RFC

15. Simon Collie
14. Rob Hudson
13. Daryl Keogh
12. Padraig Jones
11. Karl Segrave
10. David Clarke
9. Andrew Rudd

1. Tony McManus
2. Ken McGovern
3. Andy Caswell
4. Alan Moore
5. Joe Ivers
6. Daniel Pomares
7. Alan Sower
8. Adam Nolan (Captain)

Replacements:

16. Kevin Quinn
17. Andy Grace
18. Brian Lacey
19. Sean Hanlon
20. Shane Guerrine
21. Aaron Shanahan

Report: Jim O’Connor
Photos: Anne Kavanagh