Clane RFC

On yet another perfect afternoon for a game of rugby the good attendance at this match were expecting to see the home team turn the corner and get back to their winning ways. They were to be disappointed.

In the first five minutes both teams let their intentions be known that they were going to try and play an open game of running rugby. Surely this would play right into the Clane team’s hands.

Edenderry, like the other teams Clane have met in their last three outings showed early on that they had been working hard at improving their game and were not the same team that escaped with a home draw in the first half of the season.

In that first 10 minutes Clane just about had the edge on the visitors but had no points on the board to show for it. This was largely due to a well disciplined and organised Edenderry defense. After 15 minutes Edenderry managed to get a foothold in the Clane half of the pitch and after a number of phases were awarded a penalty pretty much in front of the posts. Unfortunately for Edenderry their out half’s attempt struck the upright and the ball came back into play and the score remained 0-0.

Clane continued to press but their one dimensional play was being easily read by the opposition who were able to break down any attempt at breaching their lines. Then on 20 minutes as the visitors were going forward, a rapid delivery from the base of a ruck by Edenderry’s scrum half, saw them with the extra man out wide and they ran in the first try of the afternoon. The number 10 added the 2 points and the score was 0-7 to the Offally men.

As you would expect Clane rose to the challenge and tried to up the tempo of the game but they showed little imagination in their efforts to break open a resolute defense. However, on one such occasion after 20 minutes they were awarded a very kickable penalty which the usually reliable Gordon Kearney pushed wide and the score remained the same.

By now Edenderry were seeming to control the game and even though Clane frequently had good possession they continued to make the same plays which invariably handed possession back to the visitors. On 27 minutes Clane were awarded a penalty which Kearney comfortably converted to open the home teams account. 3-7.

Edenderry came right back at them from the kick off and were in a strong scoring position inside the Clane 22 when they were penalised for an accidental offside. From the scrum, Clane failed to clear properly to touch and after a quick fire multiple phase passage of play, Edenderry were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which they score to extend the lead to 3-10.

Even though Edenderry were calling all the shots, they were not having it their own way and the Clane team were relentless in their efforts. It was clear to see Captain Brian Conroy urging his men on but they could not find the gap through this Edenderry defense. Having withstood a fierce and sustained Clane onslaught towards the end of the first half the visitors broke away downfield to score their second try of the afternoon and stretch their lead to 15-3.

The score remained this way until half time and unless Clane could reply soon they would be in trouble.

The most remarkable thing about the second half of this game is that Edenderry failed to score at all. Such was the home team’s desire and urgency that they had the majority of the possession and territorial advantage but an incredibly resolute defense and some unfortunately timed handling errors prevented Clane form crossing the line. Kearney did convert two more penalties to make the last five minutes extremely exciting. However, Clane seemed to rush each attack and relied way to heavily on the crash tactic for which the Edenderry pack seemed well prepared.

Where to now for Clane? They will feel rightly despondent as the level of commitment shown by the players on the pitch has not delivered for them for the last few matches. They are fit, strong and seemingly well prepared but just need that extra bit of creativity in order to turn their advantages into winning ways.

Team: Sean Sullivan, Gary Mullen, David Doran, Thomas John Ryan, Brian Conroy, Niall Brennan, Noel Casey, Fergal Corbett, Alan O Neill , Mark Coonan, Anthony Hennessy, Colum Fagan, Ronan Murphy, David Watkins, Gordon Kearney Reps: Justin Monahan, Paul Moran, Christopher Woodhouse, Sussy Kelly