Late bonus point win moves Clon up to 5th

Clondalkin gave their Division 1A survival hopes a huge boost with an important home win against Suttonians on Saturday 9th January in Gordon Park.

 

The home team were slow out of the blocks from the kickoff and conceded possession in their own 22 – from the resulting lineout, Suttonians drove over their maul to score a try which was converted. Despite the recent wet weather, the underfoot conditions were relatively good and there was little or no breeze to speak of. Chris Jebb used this to his advantage when his 8th minute penalty attempt was direct and true to reduce to gap to 3 points to 7. The northside team were enjoying the majority of possession and it took a relieving kick from scrum half Eoin Delaney to clear the Clon lines – from the ensuing follow up, Niall Nolan made ground to link well with Barry Mulloy who went over for a try in the corner. The conversion was missed but Clon were now ahead on the score board, 8-7 and had a dominant scrum platform to build their lead upon. However, the home side had not come to terms with the visitor’s well drilled lineout and they conceded a penalty in their own 22 which was converted as Suttonians reclaimed the lead, 8-10 on the half our mark. Five minutes before half time, Chris Jebb was the recipient of a well worked backs move as Clon took quick ball from their own lineout. He went over in the corner but missed the extra 2 points but made up for this just 3 minutes later with a penalty kick to leave the score at half-time, 16-10.

Into the second half and Suttonians lineout began to creak as they conceded a penalty after 3 minutes which Jebb used to extend the lead to 19-10. A Clon offside allowed the visitor’s to claim back 3 of these points before they were reduced temporally to 14 men with a yellow card for their 2nd row. The subsequent 5 metre scrum lead to a penalty try under the posts for Clondalkin as they drove Suttonians backwards at speed. Despite having little to play for as the bottom of the table side, Suttonians showed pride as they fought hard to reduce the deficit  – on the other hand, Clon were on a mission to score their 4th try and with it a vital bonus point. The visitors held out until the 37th minute when Colm Quinn went over in the corner after a hack and chase downfield. Throwing caution to the wind there was more to come from Clon in a move that featured more offloads that in the previous 79 minutes combined, Matt Stapleton was put over under the posts which left the final result at 40 points to 16. A slightly flattering scoreline but a well deserved win and the bonus point means Clon leapfrog both Kilkenny and Monkstown into 5th place in the league.

Clon 2nds were involved in a much closer match against their Suttonians counterparts but came out on top 12 points to 5, courtesy of 4 successful penalty kicks from Captain Steve Cunningham.

Clondalkin 1st XV: Conor Maloney, Brian Doyle, Conor McCrea, Simon King, Marcus Doyle, Aaron Donnelly, Neil Finlay, Derek Glennon, Eoin Delaney, Colm Quinn, Niall Nolan, Matt Stapleton, Barry Mulloy, Ali Collier, Chris Jebb
Subs:, James Kenny, Gareth Black, Sean Brennan, Lee Bagnall, Dave Gaule

Clondalkin 2nd XV: Bobby Smith, Darren Madden, Ken Mc Mahon, Tom Mc Grath, Jamie Davies, PJ Mc Auley, Thibaut Remark, John Walshe, Thomas Ankers, Ben Foran, Carl Horan. Leigh Berisford, Steve Cunningham, Podge Murphy, John Murphy
Subs: Stephen Keeley, Greg Dunne, Kev cullen, John Nolan, Colin Lyons