Clane RFC

By Terry Hennebry

Following last weeks defeat to Longford, Clane traveled to Kilkenny hoping to get the double on them having won their home fixture against this team in the first half of the season. On a perfect afternoon for rugby this promised to be a great match.

However, this was not the same team that played in Clane, this was a stronger, fitter, bigger team and from the first whistle they let their intentions be known. In the first few minutes they forced a defensive error from Clane but the ensuing penalty was missed. After 10 minutes all the possession had been with the home team who were forcing Clane onto the back foot and it was almost inevitable when the visitors conceded another penalty, this time in a very good position on the Clane 22. Inexplicably the Kilkenny number 18 again missed this simplest of chances and Clane were let off the hook again. The match was beginning to look like a forwards battle and the Kildare men showed their anxiety when they were penalised again for failing to follow the referees instructions at the scrum. Kilkenny kicked for touch and got it right on the Clane try line. However, TJ Ryan stole the throw in and Clane were able to relieve the pressure albeit temporarily.

After 20 minutes, Clane hadn't set foot inside the Kilkenny half such was the intensity of the Kilkenny forward play. However, just as other teams have found out, it is not easy to break through their resolute and well marshaled defense.

Because of the pace of the game handling errors were abundant on both sides and the referee was kept busy. This had the effect of making the match to appear somewhat scrappy in this first half.

On 25 minutes Kilkenny were awarded another penalty near the Clane 22 and one felt sure that they would put the first points on the board this time. It was not to be as the number 18 again misjudged his kick and it flew narrowly wide. Clane, defending as they were, were riding their luck.

Then, almost out of the blue during another Kilkenny attack a gap appeared in the visitors defense and Kilkenny did not need a second invitation to go through it and score under the posts. This time the kickers aim was true for the conversion and it was 7-0 to the home side.

As you would expect, Clane tried to lift their game but were still finding it difficult to gain any foothold in the Kilkenny half of the pitch. The game was played for about 10 minutes between the two 10 meter lines as both sets of forwards tried to dominate. As the game progress towards half time the number of handling errors increased and both teams lost opportunities to score. Penalties were flying in both directions with both teams opting for the kick to touch almost every time. In the dying seconds of the first half Clane finally got inside the Kilkenny 22 for the first time. The Kilkenny defense was determined but they conceded a penalty. Brian Conroy the Clane captain consulted with the ref as to how much time was left and wisely took the decision then to allow Gordon Kearney to slot home the peno for Clane's first points. &-3 to the home side as the half time whistle went.

From the kick off Kilkenny made progress into the Clane 22 and were awarded the first penalty of the second half. The kicker again narrowly missed the kick even though one of the linesmen flagged a score. The referee who was behind the kicker over ruled him and the score wasn't allowed.

It was obvious that Clane were increasing their tempo and finally started to try and bring their backs into the game but the handling errors and the penalty count continued. On one such occasion just 5 minutes into the second half Conroy attempted to question the ref as to why a penalty had been awarded but he himself was penalised a further 10 meters. From the kick down field Kilkenny won the line out and for once some slick handling saw them score a well worked try. The Kilkenny 18 slotted the conversion to bring the score to 14-3 which just about reflected the home team's territorial superiority.

Not used to being this far behind any team Clane seemed to find a new fire in their bellies and really started getting into the match however, some powerful defensive play from Kilkenny's or unforced handling errors prevented them from adding to their score. Clane's Cormac McEvoy looked to be seriously injured during a Clane attack and play was held up while he received attention but thankfully he was able to resume.

With Clane applying real pressure they were now inning the Lions share of the scrums but it was noticeable that their scrum half was being caught by clever play by his opposite number and this resulted in many attacking opportunities breaking down. However, from one Kilkenny clearance, Gordon Kearney gather for Clane and made a scything break through the Kilkenny defense before off loading at the last possible minute for Bully Murphy to dive over for a try wide on the right. Kearney converted brilliantly to bring the score to 14-10 after 15 minutes. No more than the visitors deserved for their much better approach in the second half. Clane now definitely were edging the possession and were spending more time in the Kilkenny half. They were beginning to disrupt the Kilkenny scrum and managed to reverse the put ins on a couple of occasions. From another promising attack they were forced into a ruck just 5 meters from the Kilkenny line when the referee adjudged that the ball was being held and Kilkenny were able to relive the pressure with the ensuing penalty kick. Frustration for the visitors. Shortly after this there was an incident of "Hanbags" involving 2 Kilkenny players who appeared to be over enthusiastic in their off the ball treatment of Clane's big Prop, Dave Doran.

Kilkenny made a quick break back down the pitch and after a number of phases their number 9 cheekily dropped a goal to add three points to the Kilkenny score and make it 17-10 after 25 minutes. Not long after this the best try of the day so far was scored when Kilkennys exciting number 12 weaved his way at speed through the Clane defense. He was stopped just short of the line by Kearney but he got the ball away to his supporting forwards who crashed over to make it 22-10. The number 18 again added the points to bring the score to 24-10 with a little over 10 minutes remaining.

In Fairness to Clane they refused to lie down and drove down the pitch time after time. If Kilkenny's number 12 thought he had set up try of the day he was about to be outdone by Clane's Mark Coonan who scored a typical outhalf try by chipping over the defense and running on to gather before scoring under the posts. Kearney added the points and with 5 minutes left on the clock the score was now 24-17.

Try as they might Clane couldn't find the elusive equalising try and Kilkenny ended up victors on the day.

This is the second narrow defeat in a row for the Clane team and it would seem that the prolonged Christmas break hasn't done them any favours. However, their season is still very much alive and this writer suspects that they will not lose three in a row.

At the same venue earlier in the day, an under strength Clane 2nd's were beaten by Kilkenny. Even though the first half was well contested with the half time score 7-6, the second half was much more one sided with the home team eventually winning comfortably.

Squad Sean Sullivan Gary Mullen Dave Doran Justin Monaghan TJ Ryan Noel Casey Niall Brennan Brian Conroy Alan o Neill Mark Coonan Anthony Hennessy Ronan Murphy Luke McCormack Colum Fagan Gordon Kearney Replacements Paul Morrin Tony Blake Fergal Corbett Sussy Kelly Dave Watkins