Clane RFC

For the second successive year Clane opened their league campaign with an away trip to Clonattin, Gorey. This year however Clane came with the spoils in a hard fought game. Clane opened brightly and after a surge into the oppostion 22 by David Watkins, the Clane pack took on a couple of balls, the ball was recycled quickly and quick hands from the Clane backline put Ronan Murphy in for a try, Tony Mcloughlin added the extras. With 10 mins on the clock Clane had the perfect start but they didn't build on this lead and instead Gorey worked their way into the game by playing the corners and keeping it very tight. Clane's defence never looked under pressure but ill-discipline as is oft the case gave Gorey territory deep into the Clane half, Clane struggled to get out and as Gorey's confidence grew they played their best rugby combining their effective pick and drive game plan with some width to create an over lap that the Clane scramble defence failed to keep out as Gorey touched down in the corner followed by a superb conversion from the touch-line.

Clane awoke from their slumber and took the game back to Gorey, they were in the acendency as half-time approached and depsite been camped in Gorey's 22 for a 10 minute spell and a yellow card issued to the Gorey 8 Adrian Copeland they came away with no reward. The teams were level at half-time 7 all. Gorey bouyed by their ability to hold of the Clane siege started brightly and their 14 men took the lead with a somewhat fortuate drop goal that wobbled over the bar. That was as good as it got for Gorey as Clane finally started to put some phases together and the introduction of Colum Fagan seem to ignite Clanes attack and they started to look far more potent as an attacking unit. Clane levelled the scores through a Tony McLoughlin penalty after some good work from the Clane back-row of Jackson, Holland and Conroy. The winning score came with about 15 mins to go when Fagan fielded an up and under from the Gorey full back and ran it back superbly, with support on hand the ball was recycled quickly and Mick Holland ran an excellent line to touch down, McLoughlin failed with the conversion.

From the restart Clane looked to finish off Gorey but the final ball or a player getting isolated on his own let them down. Clane ran down the clock comfortably though and the final score was 15-10 in Clane's favour. In a work man like performance that failed to reach the heights these players are capable of Mick Holland and Alan O'Neill were outstanding with Anthony Hennessy providing a very reassuring pressence at full-back. Clane entertain league favourites Clondalkin at home this Sunday, all support welcome.

Team: Niall Hughes, Gary Mullen, Paul Morrin, Justin Monahan, TJ Ryan, Peter Jackson, Mick Holland, Brian Conroy, Alan O'Neill, Mark Coonan, John Kinsella, Ronan Murphy, David Watkins, Tony McLoughlin, Anthony Hennessy Reps: David Doran, Tony Blake, Fergal Corbett, Colum Fagan, Jon Slattery.