Wanderers 19 Dundalk 10

Dundalk made the trip to Lansdowne Road on Saturday to face top of the table Wanderers. Two

points separated the sides in the league before kickoff and Dundalk were looking for a win that

would put them top. Playing under the shadow of the Aviva stadium Dundalk had to quickly adapt to playing on the

artificial surface as Wanderers started off the game strongly and put huge pressure on Dundalk’s

defence and scrum early on. But the Dundalk defence held strong and it wasn’t long before they got

on the scoreboard. Wanderers were penalised for going off their feet at a ruck and Ultan Murphy

stepped up to slot over the penalty just inside the Wanderers half to put Dundalk 3-0 up after

10 minutes.

The next twenty minutes of the opening half belonged to Wanderers. Good play by

their out-half gave them strong field position inside the Dundalk 22. With a dominant set-piece

Wanderers had an ideal platform to attack off but Dundalk’s defence stood strong and there were

huge tackles going in by Jonathan Gray, Robert Farrell and Ene Faatau. But eventually Wanderers

sustained period of pressure paid off and after going through several phases of play a gap opened

for the Wanderers second row and captain to get through for the opening try which was converted.

Dundalk tried to respond but perhaps kicked too much ball away which gave possession back to the

south Dublin team. Again Dundalk found themselves defending back inside their own 22. Eventually

Wanderers were awarded a scrum and from which their number eight picked and got beyond

Dundalk’s defence. He was stopped short of the line by a great tackle from Owen McNally but found

his support players for them to get over for their second try which again was converted. Dundalk

responded well but were unable to get on the score sheet again before half-time leaving the score-

14-3 at half time.

The second half was to be no easier for Dundalk as they faced into a stiffening breeze and were

certainly up against quality opposition. However again this season the Mill Road men dug deep and

stuck together. They started the second half well holding onto more possession but simple errors

and lack of accuracy at times stopped Dundalk from gaining more from their possession. Again it was

Wanderers who got the next score. Another good kick by their full-back give Dundalk a defensive

lineout five metres form their own line. An overthrow allowed Wanderers to steal the ball at the

back and resulted in them getting over for their third try. The conversion was missed which left

the score at 19-3. Wanderers were now looking for a bonus point fourth try. But the last twenty

minutes belonged to the Mill Road men. The forwards who were excellent in defence all day brought

the game to Wanderers, resulting in quicker ruck ball which allowed out-half Jonathan Williams

to release his outside backs. Isaia Petelo and McNally in particular crossed the gain line time and

time again which then allowed the Dundalk pack to move onto the ball. Wanderers were feeling the

pressure and Dundalk got what they deserved when Williams crashed over for Dundalk’s first try

which Murphy converted, 19-10 with 15 minutes to go. Dundalk threw caution to the wind and ran

at every occasion, tapping penalties and playing with real width and tempo. However they just could

not get the scores they needed and may feel hard done by when Petelo was deemed to be held

up short and scrum-half Thomas Campbell got over but was judged to have lost the ball forward.

Wanderers were delighted to hear the final whistle as they held out for victory.

Dundalk will be bitterly disappointed not to have least got a bonus point, which many felt they at

least deserved from this match. But if they can play like they did for the last twenty minutes for

eighty minutes then they may still have a say were the league title ends up come March. Dundalk

had great and brave performances throughout the team but credit has to go the pack and especially

Ciaran Brannigan, Robert Farrell, Mike Bentley, Chris O’Hanlon and flankers Brendan Hadden and

James McConnon for not taking a backwards step all day.

Team: U Murphy, O McNally, I Petelo, MJ McKevitt, R O’Hagan, J Williams, T Campbell, E Faatau,

B Hadden, J McConnon, M Bentley, C O’Hanlon, R Farrell, J Gray, C Brannigan Subs: C Williams, D

McGuinness, L Steen, S Murphy, J Shields