The fifth match for Clondalkin Women’s Rugby of their Leinster League Division 1 campaign for second weekend in a row was played away – this time against Railway Union J1s at Park Avenue. Due to challenges with pitch availability, the kick off had been switched to a later time of 1:30 and eventually kicked off at 1:47 as the earlier match on the Railway Union pitch finished later than planned.
Prior to the match Railway Union management had indicated that they were severely challenged with numbers and as a result they were only able to field 13 players. In agreement with Clondalkin, the match then was played as a 13-a-side and for just 70 minutes duration.
From the kick-off Clondalkin played with the intensity that has been a hallmark of their season thus far – after enduring some early pressure from Railway Union, the Clondalkin out-half, Gael Stowe found some space and released her number 8, Mairead Holohan to go over for the first try of the match. From the restart, Railway once again applied pressure to the Clondalkin defense but after collecting the ball from the back of a ruck, the Clondalkin scrum half and captain, Shóna Byrne spotted a gap in the Railway back line before a timely pass to Mairead Holohan to score a second try.
Railway came back determined to get their scoring started and on winning a scrum in the Clondalkin 22, some good passing resulted in the Railway Union number 17 going over for a try which was converted by their full back.
Clondalkin hit back immediately with some fine passing between Gael Stowe and number 2 Debbie Hendrick resulting in a try by the out half which she duly stood up to convert. From the restart a great run by left winger Niamh Farrelly was stopped just short of the line but Railway were penalised for not rolling away in the tackle. From the penalty, Clondalkin produced a move straight off the training ground to allow Shóna Byrne score to the left of the Railway posts which was then converted by Ailbhe O’Nolan. From the restart the ball was fielded by Gael Stowe who passed to Anne Marie Whelan who in turn passed to Sara Phelan who scored a try. Clondalkin finished the half by taking a ball against the head in a Railway scrum which was picked up by Mairead Holohan and played to Shóna Byrne to score a try to the right of their posts which was converted by Gael Stowe. The teams turned around with the score at Railway 7, Clondalkin 41.
At the request of Railway Union, the scrums went uncontested for the second half which started as the first half had started – Railway testing the Clondalkin defense. Twice Clondalkin were penalised near their own 22. However, Railway were not able to capitalise on this pressure and from a Clondalkin scrum the ball was passed to Ailbhe O’Nolan who kicked long into the Railway half and then kicked on again for the ball to be touched down by Shóna Byrne under their posts which was converted by Gael Stowe.
From the restart the ball was fielded by Mairead Holohan who made a long break and then passed to Ailbhe O’Nolan to score a try to the right of the Railway posts which was converted by Gael Stowe. There then followed a good passage of play with the ball eventually being was passed to Sara Phelan who scored in the right corner.
Clondalkin continued to apply serious pressure against their opponents with some concerted effort up the left wing that was eventually rounded off by Niamh Farrelly scoring her first try for Clondalkin Womens Rugby in the left corner. A series of great offloads and direct running by Melissa Kavanagh resulted in Laura Wall scoring a try on the right wing followed by Sara Phelan scoring in the right corner. Then a great kick by Michelle Rowan was well caught by Ailbhe O’Nolan who scored a try under the posts which she also converted.
Clondalkin did not want to finish the scoring – a second try from Laura Wall in the right corner was followed up by a try from Sara Phelan, converted by Gael Stowe and a final try by Shóna Byrne after a pickup from the back of their scrum by Mairead Holohan to provide a weighted pass to her captain. Upon this try being converted by Ailbhe O’Nolan, the referee blew the final whistle. The final score was Railway Union 7, Clondalkin 101.
For Railway Union, they can take pride in the effort of all 13 players, their heads never dropped and they kept going until the very final whistle, playing the game in an exemplary fashion – in very good spirit as the game should be played – despite being limited to 13 players with no option for a substitute and a respite. They will learn as a team, regroup and come back stronger.
For Clondalkin Womens Rugby, it was a game of many firsts including but not limited to:
- The first time ever we have come away with a positive result against Railway Union,
- The first time that one of our new recruits, Niamh Farrelly has scored a try, and
- The first time that another addition to the senior squad this year, Melissa Kavanagh, has won the Player of the Match. Well done Mel!
Each and every one of the eighteen players that travelled to Park Avenue gave their utmost in the cause of the team. They were equally well supported by the coaching and medical staff as well as the travelling supporters. The result keeps Old Belvedere at the top of the table on 21 points closely followed by Clondalkin in second place on 19 points.
The next league match for Clondalkin Womens Rugby will be at home to Portarlington on Sunday, December 1. As always, your support at this match will be very much welcome.
Clondalkin Womens Rugby Team: Amanda Boland, Shóna Byrne (captain), Caroline Conway, Niamh Farrelly, Naomi Fynes, Aideen Grogan, Sandie Healy, Debbie Hendrick, Mairéad Holohan, Melissa Kavanagh, Kerrie O’Halloran, Ailbhe O’Nolan, Sara Phelan, Michelle Rowan, Nicola Smyth, Gael Stowe, Laura Wall and Anne Marie Whelan,
