First XV v UL Bohemians Match Report
AIL 2A Round 12
vs UL Bohemian
Stradbrook
The morning showers gave way just in time for us to enjoy a very pleasant, mild afternoon to watch rugby at Stradbrook. The visitors sit at the bottom of the league table, however a single score has been the only difference in most of their matches and they arrived looking to overturn the Rock win from Annacotty.
This was our fourth match in four weeks and injuries played their part, as both sides were forced to make changes. The Bohs team that were narrowly defeated by Navan the previous week were missing both Locks and their Blindside-Flanker from their starting line up. We made changes of our own, with three of our starting pack also sidelined.
UL Bohs got the match underway, kicking off towards the clubhouse. Both teams started on the front foot, trying to pin the opposition back and kicking deep at every chance. Bohs had a scrum on our 5 metre line after fifteen minutes, which the referee made them reset three times, before a penalty in the scrum gave us some respite.
On eighteen minutes the Bohs left winger took a mark on their 5 metre line and kicked for touch. From the resultant line out just inside their half in front of the press box, Roy Whelan flicked the ball quickly down to Edwards who moved it left across the back line. Dave McCarthy slipped a great pass to Mattie Dwan who broke through the Bohs line and threw a looping pass to Brian ‘Cokes’ Colclough. Cokes raced in to score our first Try in the left corner. Kicker Quirke lined up the conversion attempt and added the extras with a brilliant effort from the sideline.
18’
7 : 0
On twenty nine minutes, Hugh Doyle, having seen yellow earlier in the game, made amends by scoring our second Try of the afternoon. Following some solid forwards work, the ball came to Chris Rolland who passed to Hughie to score. Kicker, again, added the extras.
29’
14 : 0
In time added on, Bohs were held up over our line and the referee signaled the end of the first half.
HT
14 : 0
The first twenty minutes of the second half were fairly even as both back lines spread the ball. Solid defence stopped the scoreboard ticking over until Mark ‘The Terror’ Edwards made a breakthrough. Cian Reale made a break from the back of a ruck on half way. Edwards was beside him to take the pass and score under the posts. Kicker added the extra two.
60’
21 : 0
Five minutes later Bohs got on the board with their only score of the afternoon.
65’
21 : 5
Our bonus point try came in the 69th minute as Niall Hardiman scored off the back of a rolling maul, set up from a line out at their 5 metre line. Conversion attempt slipped wide.
69’
26 : 5
Bohs had emptied their bench by this stage and the aforementioned injuries told the story of the final ten minutes, as first Joe Byrne broke through on seventy five minutes. James Fennelly sold Bohs a dummy and passed to Joe, who made 30 metres to score. Kicker Quirke added the extras before he sped in to dot down himself just two minutes later.
Our seventh try of the day started and finished with Man of the Match, James ‘Go Low’ Burke in time added on. The ref. could be heard telling the players that the kick off after Quirkie's try would be the last play of the game.
Bohs went long and the last play started at our own 22, when Burkie took the catch from the kick off. It involved four phases and a total of fourteen passes before Burkie received a pass at their 22 and went in low to score. It was a superb team try and a fitting end to a superb team performance.
FT
43 : 5
The Carl Gross Menswear MOTM is James Burke. Visit Carl Gross in their Dawson Street store or online for all your menswear needs.
Seven different try scorers on the day and a try bonus point sees us back to winning ways.
We lie third in the league on 41 points. We are level with MU Barnhall who are in second on point difference. Leaders Queens remain on 44 points, having failed to add to their tally as Nenagh Ormond won in Belfast. Cashel lie fourth on 39 points with Nenagh two behind them on 37.
We are now two thirds of the way into the regular season and have scored 40 tries after the 12 matches. Fifteen different try scorers have dotted down. Cokes leads the try count with seven, one ahead of Kicker Quirke on six. Mattie Cosgrove sits third with four tries.
The refixed match between Ballymena & Old Crescent will take place on February 11th, after which all teams will have played 12 games.
We are on a much needed break until February 18th when we travel to Balreask Old to take on Navan.