Clane RFC

After a string of defeats this was a game Clane simply had to win. Because of the condition of the pitches in Clane after the dreadful weather over the last couple of months the match was relocated to Kildara's facility in the Curragh. The money spent on their grounds really proved its worth.

To add to events this week the Clane Captain, Brian Conroy, stood down from his position after last weeks game stating the need to concentrate on and restore his own game to his own very high standards. The new club captain, Anthony Hennessy, is a well established player in the club. Indeed he is the son of the last President of the club, the much liked and respected Mick Hennessy. The Hennessy's have been involved in the Kildare club for years so not only is it an honour for Anto' to step up to the captains roll but it is also an honour for the club to have people like the Hennessy's involved.

On a sunny but bitterly cold afternoon the two teams set down a marker early on that they were both going to enjoy the firm underfoot conditions and play the running game. From the outset, Conroy nearly scored a surprise try but knocked on at the last second in front of an open try line. Intention declared then.! For the first ten minutes it was all Clane. In fact the ball never got inside the other half of the pitch. What was evident was that while Clane showed their intent to move the ball at every opportunity the scrummaging power of the visitors ensured that there was very little clean ball for them to use. However, the continuous pressure eventually paid off and, after a brilliant run by Dave Watkins, Gordon Kearney slotted the first three points from a resulting penalty in front of the posts.

3-0 Clane.

Perhaps losing concentration for a minute Clane were immediately punished when, from the Kick off Gorey charged downfield and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which there number 11 duly slotted over. 3-3 after 14 minutes.

From the Kick off it was all Clane pressure again. After a short delay during which time Clane's Fergal Corbett received some attention, Watkins, reveling in these sure foot conditions made a another solo break down the right wing this time cleverly kicking inside just when he was about to run out of space but he was narrowly beaten to the touch down by the Gorey full back.

After 20 minutes of constant pressure one wondered if this was going to be similar to other recent matches when Clane failed to convert their superiority into scores. On 25 minutes the home team was awarded another penalty and Kearney again added the points with his trusty right boot. From the kick off Clane again took clean possession and were clean away to score the first try of the match but an incident off the ball involving both sets of players forced the ref to stop the match while he and a few more responsible players broke up the melee. Gorey's Number 10 was deemed to be the culprit and was summarily dismissed to the sin bin.

With the one man advantage, Mick Holland, who had been sorely missed through injury began to make some telling breaks through the Wexford men's defense. On one such occasion from the ensuing ruck, Mark Coonan saw a gap that no one else did and dashed through brilliantly to score just beside the posts. 11-3 to Clane and no more than their pressure deserved. Kearney again added the points to take it to 13-3.

At this stage of the game, Clane seemed in control and just to make sure Prop Dave Doran was introduced to add some impact to the scrum where Clane were definitely second best. In fact Clane would have been streets ahead in this game if their Line out and scrummaging were up to a reasonable standard but they lost several golden opportunities in these set plays to a much relieved Gorey side. On what was by now a rare foray down pitch, Gorey almost scored a try but the last pass was noticeably forward and was spotted by the ref.

Shortly afterwards with just minutes remaining in the first half Dave Bull Watkins made another of his scything bursts setting up a ruck which allowed Scrum Half Alan O'Neill to release Colm Fagan to score the second try for Clane. Kearney again added the points. 20 -3 and Clane were looking good.

Gorey showed they were not there just to make up the numbers and immediately forced their way downfield where they were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of extra time to make the score 20-6 and give them some hope in the second half.

Who knows what is said at half time by coaches. One thing is certain; whatever the Gorey Coach said to his team gave them the necessary lift to start bringing the game to Clane. Clane on the other hand, seemed to lose the self belief they had shown in the first half. The difference was noticeable from the restart.

The play was much more open and being played at a ferocious place. The tackling by Gorey was hard and effective. Clane on the other hand were beginning to miss tackles and had difficulty getting out of their half of the pitch. The Gorey pressure eventually paid off and their smart number 12 set up a backs move resulting in a try which was converted bringing the score now to 20-13.

Gorey obviously now had their tales up and while Clane also responded they were making too many unforced handling errors. Midway through the second half Gorey had a chance to further narrow the gap but their Kicker narrowly missed his attempt at a penalty from a relatively kickable position.

Gorey were relentless in their drives; and while Clane tried to raise their game to a new level the Wexford men were having none of it. They were fierce in their scrums and massively effective in the line outs. Turning over possession time and again, one young but loyal Clane supporter, Rachel Jones, was heard to say, 'This is Weird'. She was right. From seemingly cruising to victory Clane were now fighting for survival. The inevitable happened after sustained forward play down the left hand side Gorey forced over for their deserved try which while out far on the left was superbly converted by the Gorey number 11. With only minutes left and the sides equal at 20-20 surely the next score was the winner? Clane drove forward and after several phases of play were awarded a penalty under the posts. Kearney didn't need to be asked what he had to do and he duly obliged with a calm kick splitting the uprights to make it 23-20. Were Clane going to break their losing streak? Not so. Almost immediately from the kick off Gorey were awarded a needless penalty for holding on when there was plenty of support and little opposition pressure. Gorey's number 11 took full advantage and slotted home the 3 points. 23-23. with only a short time left, Clane tried to get the winning score but after play from a line out broke down, after what had been a fabulously exciting last fifteen minutes of good club rugby, the ref blew the final whistle amidst a certain confusion that left players on both side unsure if the match was over. It was. If Clane have at least stopped their losing streak, this was a match they should have and could have won. But lets not take away from the victors. They will go home satisfied with a share of the spoils and satisfied that they played a better second half.

New Captain Anthony Hennessy will have his work cut out to lift this potentially great collection of players back to where they can start realizing their potential as they did earlier in the season.

Team: Sean Sullivan, Gary Mullen, Paul Morrin, Justin Monaghan, Brian Conroy, Michael Holland, Noel Casey, Fergal Corbett, Alan O Neill , Mark Coonan, Anthony Hennessy, Colum Fagan, Ronan Murphy, David Watkins, Gordon Kearney Reps: TJ Ryan, David Doran, Niall Brennan, Sussy Kelly