v Monkstown
UCD J2 23 8 Monkstown
The weather in Sydney Australia last Saturday was 25 degrees and sunny. Sydney Parade in Dublin, home of Monkstown, was a rather more inclement affair. From very early in this week's game, the J2s, battling with both the elements and a very abrasive Monkstown, found themselves very much in a war of attrition.
Following a sleepy start, UCD switched-on twenty minutes in, with the pack deciding to take matters into their own hands. With the ball firmly placed up the jumper for a fifteen minute spell, UCD rumbled over for two hard earned tries. Monkstown raised their game significantly at this point and the preceding half an hour's rugby was played deep inside the UCD 22. Monkstown's pickings from this spell were reduced to a try and a penalty and the collective UCD defensive effort was ultimately what won us the game. To a man, UCD defended bravely.
Holding onto our narrow 10 - 8 lead, fifteen minutes into the second half, a crucial turnover steal on our own line turned the tide of the game. Finally getting to use the wind to the right effect, out-half Paul Roddy steered the game firmly back into Monkstown territory with good kicking and very effective use of ball carriers from the pack and inside backs. In particular, Geoff Sheehan, Aidan McGlinchy and Will Hutch knotched up the hard yards. The final quarter saw UCD lay siege on Monkstown. Geoff Sheehan kicked two penalties to open an eight point margin between the sides. This was followed up with more excellent mauling from the pack on seventy minutes that yielded the try that put the result beyond doubt. The last ten minutes saw UCD opening up the game, chasing a fourth try for the elusive bonus point. It could well have come our way if the bounce of a kick ahead by Rory O'Connor had been more kind to the chasing duo of Jimmy Keogh and Eamonn O'Donoghue.
All in all, it was a good solid, 23-8 win. Games of trench-warfare of this nature are matches that the J2s have not been in the habit of weathering and closing-out in recent seasons. Consequently, those members of the team who are slightly longer in the tooth, with a greater amount of J2 miles-on-the-clock, were particularly happy with their Saturday afternoon's work. Not least Simon "Bruiser" Norton, at the heart of everything the pack did well and who has vowed never to go out on a Friday night again, given how refreshingly well he felt both pre and post match.
Next day out is an appointment with Old Wesley on Saturday week, where we will be hoping to continue our current run of form. Some tickets for Thornfield for that game are still available from the usual outlets.