v Barnhall
(12 Oct 2008)
UCD J1 XV 15 - Barnhall J1 XV 8
Collidge travelled the unenviable journey out to Celbridge at the weekend, to face an experienced and determined Barnhall XV. After a poor start to the season the students were determined to put past mistakes behind them and started with an enthusiasm which has been lacking of late. Fuelled by a desire in the bellies and the welcome return of some old familiars the team were out to prove a point.
Captained by Gerard Moran in the absence of Ger O Rourke who was struck down by an unfortunate incident with some cardboard boxes, the team began brightly with Paddy "Can of Pop" Conlon and Connor "tight is right" Mitchell to the fore, making some headway with ball in hand and in the tackle.
UCD gained great territory in the first quarter, the positional advantage was paying dividends, from some great work with Stephen “and we will” O’Dwyer, in the loose and second most famous UCD ‘gilly’ David Gilchrist in the tight. With the referee happy to get his money's worth from the brand new whistle, early opportunities for the posts were called for and converted by Simon "Bull’s-eye" Gillespie, who was on great form.
Ten minutes in UCD were 6-0 up, and showing great signs of promise.
After a few lapses of concentration Collidge gave the Westsiders a brace of chances to get back into contention, fortunately for UCD they only took half of them.
UCD began to use their Game-plan to better effect and spent considerable time down in the Barnhall half. Ably led by the rejuvenated Out-half Mark "I went to Wilko's School" Buckley who controlled the tempo and position of the game admirably, playing in a position he was certainly at home with. His troops inside and outside him made some fierce tackles reducing the Barnhall attack to only minimal advances on the Blue and Gold gain line.
After 'Gillespie's converted two more out of three attempts, the half time scores showed 12-3, with UCD in control for most periods of the half.
Barnhall’s Jaffa cakes and half time oranges must have been just the trick they needed as they began the second half in a much more composed and spirited fashion, UCD needed to match them in terms of physicality and passion and that they did. Centres Rory and Simon excelled in their defensive duties, ably supported by the welcome return of Kyle Koppehmal to full back, with “pistol” Pete and ‘Curly’ Dave on a wing a piece. Gillespie added another three points in the meantime.
Barnhall eventually did breakthrough the UCD rearguard after a concerted effort and some skilful interchanges, and what must have been twenty phases of play in the UCD 22. Somehow the Barnhall place-kicker managed to elude the posts, and no more than a foot of air, from in front of the posts, so a seven point margin was kept intact; Gavin ‘Buzz-fizz’ Telford’s chase the most likely source of distraction to the marksman.
This gave Barnhall a renewed vigour, but also galvanised the Collidge team, as they sensed their victory was within grasp but only if they fought for it, and fought they did managing to keep out Barnhall for the remaining ten minutes. Barnhall managed 18 consecutive phases in the UCD 22 without gaining so much as a penalty from the thrifty UCD defence; the yerawaddie finally resounded through the UCD changing rooms, and hopefully not for the last time in what is sure to be a long season.
Thanks must go to all involved from Coaches, managers and supporters alike for making the trip to Barnhall and players are encouraged to keep up their dedication to training on Tuesday and Thursday next.