Tallaght 1st R.F.C. 32

Tries: Adam Nolan, Rob Hudson, Simon Collie 2
Con: Rob Hudson 3
Pen: Rob Hudson 2

C.Y.M. R.F.C. 12

John Madden Plate Semi-final
Tymon Park
01/05/2018

Tallaght took on Division five side CYM on a windy Tuesday evening looking for a place in the final of the John Madden Plate. Tallaght started positively and it earned them a kick at goal that Rob Hudson put just wide. However they didn’t have to wait long to score as Adam Nolan rode a high tackle and pushed through regardless to score a fine try and Hudson was on target with the conversion to make it 7-0.

CYM were giving away constant penalties and this earned them a yellow card and Tallaght took advantage when Hudson broke through a gap to score an excellent individual try. Hudson converted his own try to give Tallaght a 14-0 lead. CYM’s discipline problems continued though when their openside flanker was first shown a yellow card and then that was upgraded to a red for backchat that the ref found unacceptable. Despite their one man deficit CYM actually played some of their better rugby and had Tallaght under some pressure at times with their dangerous backs, but Tallaght got to half-time 14-0 up.

With a strong wind behind them Tallaght started playing for territory in the second half with Adam Nolan and David Clarke kicking very well. This got them into a good position and strong carries from Ken McGovern and Mark Keogh earned them a penalty which Hudson slotted to make it 17-0. However those dangerous CYM backs were running everything back now and they eventually scored a fine try to bring it back to 17-5. However Tallaght hit back straight away when Adam Nolan fed full back Simon Collie straight from a scrum and the Aussie stepped his way through three tackles to score a try to make it 22-5.

CYM still weren’t giving up though and after constant pressure their out-half went through a gap to score a try which he converted to make it a ten-point game at 22-12. Once again Tallaght didn’t panic though and they worked their way down the pitch with some powerful running from centres Ciaran Rudd and Padhraig Jones to earn another penalty which Hudson nervelessly converted to make it 25-12. That eased the nerves and Simon Collie put the finishing touch on the performance with another excellent try which Hudson converted to make the final score 32-12.

Head coach Tom Leigh was delighted with his team’s performance. “We were up against a Division five team today but we showed that when we play our game, we’ll more than able for these teams. I’m delighted that we’ve made a fourth final in the last two seasons. This time, we’re determined to bring home the silverware”.

 

Man of the match: Ken McGovern

 

Tallaght 1sts

15. Simon Collie (Captain)
14. Ciaran Rudd
13. Padhraig Jones
12. Stephen Heaney
11. Karl Segrave
10. David Clarke
9. Rob Hudson

1. Alan Sower
2. Stephen Kelly
3. Andy Caswell
4. Joe Ivers
5. Paul Cunningham
6. Mark Keogh
7. Daniel Pomares
8. Adam Nolan

Replacements:

16. Ken McGovern
17. Tony McManus
18. Andrew Grace
19. Gavin McKeon
20. Daryl Keogh

 

Report: Jim O’Connor
Photos: Anne Kavanagh