Clondalkin played their first game of rugby in 2014 at home in Gordon Park against the side that was one place above them sitting at the top of the league, Old Belvedere. This was the final match as part of the regular league before moving to the knock-out stages.
Prior to this game, both sides were unbeaten in the league so there was everything to play for. On a wet, windy and miserable day for rugby, Clondalkin started the match the strongest. That early pressure was rewarded when Old Belvedere were penalized for not releasing in a ruck some thirty meters to the right of the posts. Ailbhe O’Nolan stepped up to kick the ball through the uprights and put the first three points on the board for Clondalkin.
Old Belvedere kicked the ball long from the restart and applied a huge amount of pressure to test the Clondalkin defense but Clondalkin weathered this storm and applied pressure of their own that ultimately resulted in Old Belvedere being penalized just short of their own try line for again not releasing the ball. Scrum half and captain Shóna Byrne did not wait for Old Belvedere to organize their defense and calmly tapped the ball through the mark, picked and dived over the line for a try. The conversion was not added.
Old Belvedere came back at Clondalkin resulting in some anxious moments as they pressed their case for grounding the ball after they mauled their way to the Clondalkin try line. But the referee adjudged that Clondalkin had held them up. However, from the resultant 5 meter scrum, Old Belvedere eventually pushed the ball to their right wing and touched down for a try. The conversion was not made. Old Belvedere came again and after a sustained passage of play they once again crossed over the Clondalkin try line, this time on the left wing. The conversion was not made. The first half ended with the score at 8 to 10 to the visitors.
The second half started as the first with Clondalkin exerting the early pressure but unlike the first half, they were unable to add any additional points onto the board. Rather it was Old Belvedere who managed to score their third try – after a period of the match mid-way through the second half where the ball was swapped back and forward between the two sides – touching down on their left wing. The conversion was missed.
Despite a gallant effort by Clondalkin and Old Belvedere being reduced to 14 players after their number 5 dangerously tackled Ailbhe O’Nolan forcing her through the pitch side fence and was given just a yellow card, Clondalkin could not find that extra impetus that would allow them to score. The match ended with Clondalkin 8, Old Belvedere 15.
As a result Old Belvedere finish the regular league on top with 35 points followed by Clondalkin on 29. Clondalkin now meet third placed team NUIM Barnhall on Sunday January 19th in the semi-final to decide who will progress to the final to play Old Belvedere. This semi-final is to be played in Gordon Park with a 1 o’clock kick off so your support would be very much appreciated.
Clondalkin Womens Rugby Team: Amanda Boland, Kerryn Buck, Shóna Byrne (captain), Caroline Conway, Niamh Farrelly, Naomi Fynes, Aideen Grogan, Sandie Healy, Debbie Hendrick, Mairéad Holohan, Brid Holohan, Melissa Kavanagh, Ciara Lennon, Amanda Madden, Ailbhe O’Nolan, Sara Phelan, Michelle Rowan, Nicola Smyth, Gael Stowe, Laura Wall, Claire Winters and Anne Marie Whelan
