v DLSP
(13 Dec 2009)
Mother Hen Daragh Geraghty took his student ducks over to the mountains of West Dublin this afternoon for what was to be a physical and bruising encounter in Kirwan Park, Stepaside.
Location pun excluded, UCD were in no mood to step aside for their hosts, in what was as spirited and committed a performance, as Collidge have mustered up this season so far.
Unfair criticism stemming from the weeks discussions on Newstalk’s “The Right Hook” about the competence of unseasonally tanned coach Daragh Geraghty’s one-dimensional team selections proved obsolete, as once again the Phil-Brown lookalike ripped up his inevitably small playbook, and pulled another rabbit out of the hat, not literally of course (See: www.rte.ie/rugby/rabbit/massacre) but in positional switches.
In the first surprise move; quiet, endearing and positive front-rower Conor Mitchell was given the unusual reigns of the second row to bulk up the engine room, but the Library Sweet-shop sponsored “Play of the week” was to move the (considerably) bulkier older brother Shane to the back-row where he could puff, wheeze and pant away to his heart’s content.
Collidge got off to a great start, straight away notching three points on the board. DLSP infringing at the ruck gave Simon Gillespie the first opportunity of the match, which he took well in tough conditions. Gillespie showed great character to keep his composure without the calming and intelligent insight of his usual kicking coach Edward Conlon. We wish Eddie well at this difficult time as he deals with the aftermath of a media whirlwind surrounding his alleged relationships with a prominent American golfer.
What appeared like disaster, struck with only ten minutes on the clock, when Wesley Carter had to be taken from the field of play, initially from what looked to be an ankle injury was later confirmed to be much less serious. He apparently had to dash off to make some last minute catering arrangements with Fraank for his 21st which occurs this Friday (all welcome). This was confirmed by our noble physio who failed to find a problem at the time, and backed up by the apparent change in his limping foot throughout the match.
The sizeable crowd (in weight rather than numbers) gasped as Daragh Geraghty once again took to the pitch, for the first time in several months in the St. Patricks blue, unfortunately it was not to play, but to bring on water in his unfortunately coloured fleece which he persists on wearing. Never to take a step backwards, it appeared to galvanise the remaining 14 players, who took the play to the west-sider’s admirably.
After a neat passage of play from the pack down the left hand side, led by hooker Gavin Telford and Second-Row James Hayes, UCD edged into the Salmo 22, quick ball (we’re talking plugged-in high speed blender this time) from Mark “Screech” Jennings, sped the ball to 2nd 5/8th Rory Allwright whose attempted cross field kick slipped from his hands to the deck and luckily ballooned over the cross-bar to account for the first “drop goal” in his career. POW! 6-0 College.
Whilst encouraged by his dress sense, which I am reliably informed was inspired by Lloyd from Entourage (chequered, sleeveless outrageous jumpers etc), fans of scrum-half cum winger cum flanker Shane Geraghty were to go home disappointed as his one touch-one try performance from last week proved impossible to replicate. This week he was wasteful in possession touching the ball three times over the course of the match and failing to score even once. In his defence I am reliably informed by club insider Frederick “yes we can” Gilligan, that Gero was carrying a Guinness related injury from the night before. Shane spoke to me after the match saying “I am not sure whether the ball or my breakfast was harder to hold on to”. Neither were to be successful.
Daire O’Beirne was magnificent from start to finish, quite obviously inspired by the speech given to him before Kickoff. I told him, just as I had told Rhys Ruddock two months previous, “if you can perform well enough for the J1’s you will be playing for Leinster within 6 weeks”, and that was clearly just the carrot that he needed.
At Half-time all were well fed, from a special import of (reassuringly expensive) Peruvian Oranges brought by a keen fan of the squad. I can confirm that everyone got a bite to eat this time, I cannot confirm/deny that it was owing to the lack of a hunger from a certain older member of the squad.
It wasn’t supposed to be a day for the wingers given the conditions, but Peter Riordan, Robbie Ensor and Kyle Coppermill at the back worked brilliantly in defence. Riordan showing the gun-power, time and time again, that led to the christening of the nickname Pistol. Having said that in one instance Pistol Pete was spotted pulling a Yorkie bar from his sock as UCD were attacking, saving himself for another decoy run later in the match.
Ten minutes into the second half, Collidge, after a sustained period of pressure in the opposition 22, were given a lifeline. After great defensive work from Salmo to turn the ball over, a wayward kick from their out-half landed in the arms of Ger Moran, who showed himself to have a greater set of hands than a German phonebook, to palm the ball into the breadbasket of Ensor who, having just raising himself up from an injury moments earlier, sprinted down the touchline showing a step at the end like a Vanilla ice haircut.
The difficult conversion just slipped right, as new kicking coach Stephen O Dwyer in a moment of possible over-coaching suggested Gillespie would be better changing feet. (O’Dwyer apparently has 12 key steps on how to kick correctly, apparently one for each of the pubs on Baggot Street he drank in last night. I am reliably informed that the last 6 were illegible and the final one looked much like a batman symbol, but having not experienced the man’s influence myself I cannot postulate at to their effectiveness.) Nevertheless the scores were now 11-0 and Collidge were beginning to look comfortable.
It was often hard to believe the strength of character, discipline and unity of what is still a very young UCD team, (except the obvious), and they deserve great credit for the grit and determination shown Today. In the centres Rory Allwright and David Gibbs tackled ferociously, staving off some almost certain tries. But for one blemish, the defence was perfect, credit must go to everyone who has worked with the team since the season started in September and they can take great credit for the excellent position which they find themselves currently in; one point from the top of the league going into the Christmas break.
The Christmas party this Saturday in Hartigan’s bar & Bistro carries compulsory attendance, and tree decoration. On a sadder note I am in the unfortunate position to have to give notice of the postponement of the Annual “Race of the Titan’s” this year, owing to an unfortunate ankle injury to mercurial beautiful Scrum-half Joseph McGinley. Rumour has it that Mr Riordan was still quite keen for it to go ahead in its current format, but thankfully the competitions committee sanctioned its postponement to a later date, most likely to be the colours match in Spring.
Kwack Kwack!