Clon welcomed Westmanstown to Gordon Park for what proved to be an excellent game of rugby between two very talented and evenly-matched teams, played in ideal conditions.
In the end, it was the home side who came from behind to snatch a hard-fought win in the dying minutes as they stretched their unbeaten run to five games.
It was a big Westmanstown side who took to the field and they started strongly with an early try before Clon settled into their passing game and Tarik Pitamor finished off a great team move across the pitch to level the scores. The scene was then set for a great battle that provided great entertainment for the home crowd in the Sunday morning sunshine with Evan Kirwan and Ben Fallon making the hard yards for Clon early on.
The away team’s restarts were a strong feature of their game and Clondalkin had to withstand a lot of pressure in the first half but some textbook tackling from the entire home side made a huge difference, with Luke Noone and Liam Hughes looking lively in the back line and the half-back partnership of Cathal Downey and Conor Jordan in great form.
A breakaway try saw Westmanstown back in the lead but back came Clon once again with Dylan Clarke scoring in the corner in front of the clubhouse, to big cheers from the home crowd after another well-worked team try. With a half-time score of 12-10 to the boys from Lucan, Clon – with powerful forwards Jake Browne and Jake O’Reilly on the rampage – laid siege to the Westmanstown line. Wing Conor Branigan won a penalty for his team close to the try line and after a quick tap, it was Downey who stretched for the line to put the home side back in front.
Back came the away team and they hit back immediately in what was a rip-roaring second half with their third try of the game to regain the lead. Then, home full-back Jack Brennan thought he had scored after chasing his own kick ahead but the referee adjudged a knock-on over the try line.
Clon, under coaches Derek Murtagh, Adrian Noone and Johnnie Brady have been making great strides with a fitness and conditioning programme this season and it stood to them in the last quarter of the game. The entire pack was relentless in tackling and counter-rucking right to the final whistle with Jamie Brady making an important steal in the away 22 and Brandon Graham and David Hughes putting their bodies on the line. Then, with less than three minutes on the clock, it was no. 8 Luke Swayne who played a captain’s role and went on a solo run from just outside the 22 and crashed in for a brilliant try that was converted by Brennan to put Clondalkin 22-17 ahead.
There was still time for a restart but more ferocious pressure from the boys in yellow, for whom Louis Lavin had another great game, led to a home penalty and as the full-time whistle blew, it was agreed by all in attendance that both teams fully deserved the refreshments and treats laid on in the clubhouse.
After away wins in Athy, Naas and Donnybrook in 2017, this Clondalkin team looks to be going from strength to strength.
Clondalkin: Forwards: Luke Swayne (Capt.), Brandon Graham, Louis Lavin, Jake Browne, Jake O’Reilly, David Hughes, Jamie Brady, Ben Fallon, Tarik Pitamor. Backs: Jack Brennan, Liam Hughes, Evan Kirwan, Cathal Downey, Conor Jordan, Conor Branigan, Luke Noone, Dylan Clarke.
Sunday, 5 February 2017. Gordon Park.
(with thanks to Gary Branigan)
