Purcell Cup 2nd Round
UCD U 20B 59 - 14 Malahide U20
Going into the game the 20 B’s had three objectives for this game, win the game, finish the game injury free and start the recovery process ahead of the league final on Thursday night (Donnybrook 19.30). Thankfully we won the game, didn’t suffer any serious injuries and the lads got to enjoy the Malahide plunge pool (in fact you couldn’t get Mike O’Sullivan out of the pool).
Having played Malahide in the league a few weeks ago we knew the game was going to be a tough physical encounter and Malahide did not disappoint us. Collidge scored after six minutes when winger Josh Morton finished off a great team try, Josh went on to score a further three times during the game. At times Collidge played some very good rugby with the forwards taking the ball on with Eoin Daly, Tim Gleeson, Kieran Finlayson and Luke Hickey standing out. Once the ball was released to the backs, the half backs Mark Conway & Kevin Haugh served their outside backs well and thanks to the good work of the forwards the back three of Shane O’Connor, Josh Morton & Joe Mackenzie enjoyed space and time on the ball.
The penalty count against Collidge was worrying and although there a number of legitimate penalties against UCD we were continually frustrated by the referees interpretation of the breakdown. This allowed Malahide to gain some territory & possession and they had soon scored their first try of the afternoon thanks to some good pick and go work near the UCD line. Collidge scored a further three tries in the first half and this took the half time score to twenty two points to fourteen after Malahide got their second try close to half time.
UCD started the second half really well and soon had increased the lead to twenty nine points to fourteen. This was the sore until ten minutes to go when Collidge managed to run in a number of unanswered scores. This reporter left his notes at home this morning so here is my best guess as to who scored UCD’s tries:
Josh Morton (4), Robbie Field, James Finnegan, Shane O’Meara, Doug Lynch, Tim Gleeson. The conversions came from Ross O’Brien, James Finnegan & Neal Murphy.
Once the final whistle was blown UCD turned their attention to Thursday’s league final where Collidge take on Bective Rangers. The teams finished one and two in the league stage of the competition so Thursday’s game will undoubtedly be the toughest game of the season so far for Collidge. Kick off on Thursday is 19.30 in Donnybrook and all support would be very much appreciated.
Finally congratulations to Joe Mackenzie and Julie who celebrated their six month anniversary last week (doesn’t time fly). According to friends close to the couple, Jolie (the collective noun the couple use… as in Brangelina) shared a romantic dinner together followed by an evening of ballroom dancing…one of Joe’s favourite pastimes. Apparently Joe gets his romantic guidance from teammate Sean Tevlin, Rob Lee and a certain other UCD RFC member who got engaged last week.
UCD U20 B v Malahide RFC Sunday April 5th:
K. Finlayson, H. Boylan, C. Kavanagh, M.O’Sullivan, R.Field, E. Daly, L. Hickey, M. Deasy, T. Gleeson, C. Farrell, N. Foley, D. Quinn.
M. Conway, S. O’Meara, K.Haugh, N. Murphy, R.O’Brien, J, Finnegan, S. O’Connor, J. Morton, J. Mackenzie, D. Lynch.