Tallaght 1sts 15
Try: Aaron Hickey, Rob Browner
Conversion: Rob Hudson
Penalty: Rob Browner
North Meath 30
Leinster League Division 3
Tymon Park
27/11/2022
Second placed Tallaght took on first placed North Meath in a top of the table clash in Leinster League Division 3. Tallaght really needed a win to get back in contention for promotion having lost away in North Meath earlier in the season.
North Meath got off to a good start and kicked a penalty to lead 3-0. Then North Meath spotted nobody at home in the Tallaght backfield and kicked ahead and chased up. Tallaght scrambled back and got away with it but it was a shot across the Tallaght bows that North Meath had identified a weakness.
With a strong wind at their back Tallaght started to use their kicking game to get into the North Meath half. Tallaght’s scrum was in the ascendency and they won several scrum penalties in a row. From one of those dominant scrums Aaron Hickey broke away to score a try to make it 5-3 to Tallaght. Even better was to come. Hickey made a brilliant break from his own half and linked up with Rob Hudson who put Rob Browner in for the try. Hudson converted and Tallaght were 12-3 ahead.
Tallaght were completely dominant now and were camped in the North Meath half for nearly all the first half. But they started missing chances to increase their lead with missed kicks at goal and took some poor attacking options in the twenty two. There was a few high tackles from North Meath which the referee let go, which was surprising considering how much of an issue concession is in the game these days. On a brief foray into the Tallaght half North Meath kicked a penalty to make it 12-6. As well as dominating in the scrum Niall Mahon and Scott Hyland were laying waste to the North Meath lineout but Tallaght just couldn’t convert this into points.
Then Tallaght suffered a real sucker punch five minute before half-time. Once again North Meath spotted space in the Tallaght backfield and kicked ahead but this time there was no one at home and the North Meath winger ran up to score an easy try in the corner. North Meath kicked a superb touchline conversion into the wind to take a 13-12 lead at half-time, a score which beggared belief given how dominant Tallaght had been.
The wind got stronger in the second half and Tallaght were struggling playing into it. They did manage to get into the North Meath half long enough to win a penalty which Rob Browner kicked to reclaim the lead for Tallaght at 15-13. However straight from the kick-off Tallaght botched their exit and conceded a scrum. Again North Meath kicked through to an empty Tallaght backfield and chased up to score a try which they converted to make it 20-13 and reclaim a lead they weren’t to lose again.
Tallaght were trapped in their own half for virtually the rest of the game. They struggled to kick into the wind and were forced to go through the phases which North Meath were only too happy to smash them back. Then North Meath appeared to deliberately knock the ball on but the referee missed it and North Meath took advantage when play continued. They once again exploited space out wide with a cross field kick which their winger gathered to score completely unopposed.
North Meath butchered a few chances of their own before finally scoring the bonus point try which gave them a 30-15 win and puts them nine points clear of second placed Midland Warriors at the top of the table. In fairness to North Meath, they played a smart and physical game and were ruthless when chances presented themselves but Tallaght will regret not making more of their dominance in the first half.
Tallaght coach Matt Gill was proud of his team’s effort but disappointed with the result. “We played some great rugby in the first half and really had them rattled. We were dominating in the scrum and lineout and our defensive line-speed was very good. But we didn’t get enough points when we were on top and ultimately North Meath did when they had the wind behind them in the second half. We had to make a lot of switches in the backline and there was some unfamiliarity with roles and North Meath took advantage of that. But we’ll keep fighting and will try to win our last four games and then we’ll see where we finish. I really want to thank the massive crowd who came out of a cold day to support us.”
Man of the match: David Clarke
Tallaght RFC
1. Alan Sower
2. Ken McGovern
3. Andy Grace
4. Patrik Toth
5. Colin Morrison
6. Scott Hyland
7. Aaron Hickey
8. Niall Mahon (Captain)
9. Ezequiel Roldan Olivera
10. Daryl Keogh
11. Rob Hudson
12. David Clarke
13. Orhun Orel
14. Ciaran Rudd
15. Rob Browner
16. Matt Gill
17. Rosemare Alves
18. Graham Timmins
19. Mick Corrigan
20. Andy Rudd
21. Ian Holohan
22. Leon Tanfin
Photos: Mark Luttrell/Alex Sadiku
