Match Report: Clondalkin 15 vs 12 Monkstown. Leinster League Division 1A

Clondalkin got their Leinster league campaign back on track with a gutsy performance against Monkstown on Saturday 1st November in Kingswood. With a strong wind driving heavy rain across the pitch for the duration of the 80 minutes, this was never going to be a exhibition match for rugby fans – rather it had “battle of the forward packs” stamped all over it. The incessant rain hampered visibility to such an extent that which ever team was to keep the ball tight in attack and avoid mistakes and missed tackles in defense were going to get the upper hand. On both these counts, Clon were not to be found wanting – the combined front row effort of Conor Maloney, Brian Doyle and League debutant John Allen Glynn set the tone with a dominant scrum, pushing Monkstown off a number of their own put-ins. Despite the wind, Doyle’s darts in the lineout were mostly true and it was from this solid scrum and lineout platform that the home team went into the break, 12 -3 up, thanks to 4 successful penalty kicks from Chris Jebb.

Despite Jebb’s controlling influence on the game with some excellent positional play, Monkstown generated momentum into the second half and clawed back the Clondalkin lead to level the score at 12 points each. With 14 minutes left on the clock, Monkstown conceded a penalty in front of their posts and Jebb stepped up to convert and put Clon back into a three point lead.The nervous wait for just the second league win of the season extended to the last play of the game after the concession of a penalty which Monkstown opted to tap and go. Clon however held up man and ball in the tackle to close out the game and keep their 100% home record. Next up is an away tie against familiar foe Cill Dara in 2 weeks time where for the first time this season, Clon will look have a full deck of players to choose from having overcome the recent spate of injuries. The 1st XV success against Monkstown unfortunately was the only senior men’s win of the weekend as the 2nds fell 22-11 to the same opposition, the 3rds went down 16 – 29 to Malahide and the 4ths lost 6 – 14 to Kilkenny Normans in conditions that can only be described as inhumane in Knocktopher.

Clondalkin 1st XV: C Maloney, B Doyle, J Allen Glynn, S Brennan, C O’Connor, S King (Capt), P Nolan, D Glennon, M Molloy, C Jebb, O Delaney, D Jebb, M Stapleton, N Nolan, B Mulloy. Subs: J Kenny, C Cullen, J Walsh, B Foran, D Gaule.