Clondalkin’s 4th XV side continued their steady rise up the Leinster Division 11 table with a hard-fought home win against Kilkenny Normans 1st team in a match held in freezing conditions on Saturday 31st January. Looking to avenge a loss from the return fixture in Kilkenny in November, Clon set out with a strategy of spinning the ball wide to outflank the Kilkenny men. Coincidentally, it transpired that the Normans arrived up to Dublin with this exact same gameplan in mind, a prospect which promised some attractive running rugby for the few hardy spectators but for some of the more mature legs in the Clondalkin team, was somewhat less appealing. Nevertheless, possession for most of the first half was shared equally between both teams but no breakthrough was possible due to robust tacking in particular from both sets of centres. However, the penalty count against Normans began to add up and it was from an infringement on the 10 metre line that Steve Cunningham stepped up to put the first points on the board with a successful kick. With the wind in their favour, Clon were comfortable in defending this slender lead, until a Normans garryowen led to a mix up in the home defence and the visiting scrum half capitalised to run home unopposed to score a converted try under the post. Finding his post-try celebration dance difficult to stomach, Clondalkin increased the pressure from the restart and forced the Kilkenny men into the concession of further penalties, two of which were converted by Cunningham to reclaim the lead and close out the first 40 minutes, 9 – 7 ahead.
Half-time brought a re-think in Clon’s tactics with Philly Byrne going to scrum-half and David Shirley moving to partner skipper Brendan Ward in a powerful new second row partnership to anchor the uncontested scrums. Ciaran Collins also joined the fray to increase the combined front row experience to well over the century mark. Now playing to their strengths, Clon kept the ball tight and made inroads into the Normans half with a series of pick and drives. Cunningham, Eamonn Stapleton, Chris Murray and Alan Hickey were all held up short of the line before Philly Byrne made the breakthrough, nipping over from the back of a mall to score Clon’s first try – the conversion was missed but the home team’s lead was extended to 16 points to 7. Normans returned the pressure immediately and playing the ball wide, found the only defensive hole that existed in Clondalkin’s backline all afternoon to touch down for a second try, which went unconverted. The match could have went either way at this point with only 12 minutes remaining and 4 points the difference but a tackling masterclass, in particular from flanker Stephen Kenny, kept the Norman’s away from the danger zone. Philly Byrne once again proved that there is no man more deadly from 2 yards out as he scored his second try, this time under the posts after a series of rucks close to the line had taken their toll on the Kilkenny team. The conversion was added and 5 minutes from time, Cunningham added a final penalty to deny the Normans all hope of a losing bonus point and the match finished out 24 points to 12. This win brings Clondalkin up to 2nd in the League table, just 3 points off DLSP who still have to come to Kingswood on the 21st February.
