UCD J1 v Railway Union
Belfield Superpond
15th March 2010
In what was a tumultuous week in world rugby, much of the speculation surrounding this week’s second round of the Metro Cup was going to surround the referee and his interpretation of the breakdown area.
Daragh and Shane Geraghty met with referee chief Paddy O’Brien before the match and I am informed that they had a super lunch, Paddy assured both of them that is normal for people their age to gain a little weight as they entered the mid-twenties, and that they needn’t worry so much about it. The relief was evident for both of them as they took charge for the 11th game of the season in front of an anxious and expectant crowd in UCD.
Collidge got off to the perfect start as Winger Peter Condon motored down the left wing, to touch the ball down looking exhausted! Simon Gillespie back from a mid-season recuperation in a polish cryogenic facility added the extras from the front of the posts. Some early indiscretions mainly from Laurence McKenna cost Collidge concentration and points. Thankfully Railway only converted one from three kickable penalties so no severe damage was done to the scoreboard.
On 14 minutes James Hayes was put back in his tracks by the nimble Railway winger who steamed through him (all puns intended), to make a decent twenty yard break, only for a superb cover tackle from Wes Carter to stall their momentum. This seemed to burst Collidge into life as again the dashingly handsome Peter Condon smooched over to finish what was a superb team try, sparked off by some neat interchange passing from Screech Jennings and James Murray. The half-back pairing have struck up a super relationship on the pitch stemming from a weekend away together in January for make or break talks. The couple seems to have worked things out, and it is certainly showing in their performances of late.
Good lineout work from Steven O’Dwyer and Arthurs Day Houlihan created a decent platform for the UCD backs to once again attack through Rory Allwright and Dave Gibbs, who thankfully managed to survive the sweltering conditions this evening.
From bad to worse things went for Railway as an attempted penalty kick from the half way was gathered by Maurice Deasy who paced through the middle, bringing the play to the half-way line, several neat offloads and quick ruck ball ensued, which culminated in local hero Houlihan gathering with plenty to do from 4 yards out. Stopping to gather his thoughts and breath half-way he managed to persevere and fall over just inside the Goal area to score UCD’s forth try of the match. Simon “Ah Pistol” Gillespie converted to leave his tally 4/4 going into half time.
The next score came from Mark Jennings whose quick thinking and neat step seen him dance around the inside cover to skip under the posts to score, Gillespie once again converted.
With 12 minutes to go UCD bring on Will Hutch and Joseph McGinley, with the game already in the bag it was just about safe to do so. McGinley’s first action was to gain a free kick from a scrum, unfortunately it was for Railway as the eagle eyed referee judged the angle of the insertion to be somewhat less than perpendicular.
The penultimate try came from another good line-out throw from Barry Lynch, who replaced the festive McKenna after 55 minutes. McKenna not quite recovering from the unforgivable lash out from the side of a ruck which earned him not only a place in the sin bin but Coach Daragh Geraghty’s naughty boy list.
Anyway back to the game, James Murray received the ball from the top of the lineout, ran a good angle outside #10, and ignoring all support around, foolishly or not, managed to score one of the most selfish, if not longest tries of the year.
The final try was left for Simon Gillepsie who after receiving an “on no, did you just see what he did” pass from Rory Allwright over the heads, hearts, minds, torsos and teeth of the final three railway defenders left the pacy Gillespie little to do. The difficult touchline conversion was coolly slotted over by the experienced McGinley.
The final scores were UCD 47-20 Railway Union.
University College Dublin now face Terenure College in two weeks time in the quarter final of the Metro Cup and all support is encouraged.
Notices:
Gardai are still appealing for witnesses for an unprovoked sniper attack on a UCD player in a recent match against Barnhall, if you know have any information whatsoever which could lead to an arrest, your help is encouraged.
This week’s crossword winner was Robbie Cheese Ensor who won a €20 voucher for Champion sports Boxing gloves.
Winner of the next weeks Man-of the match award lotto was awarded to Conor Mitchell who pestered me for 20 minutes to award it to him.