Seconds progress in the Provincial Towns Cup.
The 2nd XV made the journey to Gordon Park, Kingswood on Sunday for their Provincial Towns Cup game against Clondalkin RFC. Clondalkin 1st XV were 27 – 6 victors over Cill Dara in the Div 1A/1B Promotion / Relegation Play off on Saturday and Dundalk were expecting a well contested game from the Clondalkin 2nd XV buoyed up by the victory of their 1st XV.
Dundalk struggled throughout the entire first half with a difficult wind in their favour. Clondalkin were first to record a score touching down within five minutes after a poor Dundalk lineout on the Clondalkin five metre line. Clondalkin took the ball and moved quickly to record their try.The try went unconverted. Dundalk’s efforts in the first half came through penalty opportunities, all for hands in the ruck. Sam Mulligan converted one effort but two further kickable awards went astray. The half time score was 5-3 in favour of the home team.
The second half saw Dundalk become much more focused and play a much more controlled game into the wind. Dundalk’s enthusiasm saw them concede two penalties for hands in the ruck early in the half. Clondalkin took full advantage of the Dundalk mistakes and converted both penalties leaving the score at 11 – 3 in the home teams favour.
Dundalk then moved up a gear and good play saw Robbie Williams cross the Clondalkin line to touch down. Sam converted bringing the score to 11 – 10. Both teams contested the ball in the rucks and the referee penalised both teams for breaching the hands in the ruck rule. Only on a few minutes, John Mc Gahon was sin binned for said hands in ruck and Clondalkin converted the penalty leaving the score at 14 – 10.
Dundalk refocused and upped their game. After a a series of tight phases David Mc Gee rumbled over for Dundalk’s second try. Sam converted bringing the game to 17 – 14 in Dundalk’s favour. Dundalk were awarded another penalty for Clondalkin not rolling away. Sam again converted leaving us leading 20 – 14.
We kept up the pressure and following a number of phases up the middle we cut back on the blind side for Mulligan to release his man to score. 25 – 14. Clondalkin were not beaten yet and they attacked their visitors with renewed vigour.
They were awarded a scrum outside the Dundalk twenty two. Their number eight picked and went and his break saw him score in the corner.They missed their conversion attempt leaving the score 25 – 19.
Dundalk’s final score came from Robbie Williams in the final play of the game, taking ref and all with them to score.
The try went unconverted leaving the final score 30 – 19. Dundalk now face Co.Carlow at home on the 7th April in the next round. Well done all and keep up the good work.
Dundalk:
R.Williams, R.Shields, S.Murphy, C.Scully, D.Mc Guinness, D.Clare, S.Mulligan, C.Brannigan, C.McCabe, D.Fearon, R.McGee, M.Bentley, P.Meegan, D.McGee, J.Whyte,J.Kerr, J.McGahon, E.Roe, J.Shields, C.McGee
3rd’s Game a victim of the weather.
The 3rd’s game against Ardee which was scheduled for Townspark on Friday night was cancelled due to inclement weather.
This will allow for further preparation for the re – fixture so don’t miss training this week. See you all there.
