Good away win in Cork keeps Clonmel in the hunt in All Ireland Rugby League

ALL IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 2C

SUNDAYS WELL (Cork) 19 CLONMEL 27

Christmas has come and gone and it was back to business for the Clonmel first XV with this trip to Musgrave Park in Cork to play Sundays Well.

Clonmel had finished the first half of the season strongly to get into fourth position in the table, but would they maintain that form?

The earlier squally conditions had cleared for a bright cold day, as Sundays Well kicked off with the assistance of the wind. It was immediately clear that the home team had brought their best game and were ready for the battle. When Clonmel went off their feet at an early ruck, “The Well” backed their maul from the ensuing lineout and marched 20 metres forward before Clonmel conceded the penalty.

The home side again secured their lineout and opted to spread the ball. Clonmel transgressed in a midfield ruck, the home team elected for the posts, and the penalty was converted after six minutes.
Just four minutes later a speculative long kick from the home side caused confusion in the Clonmel rearguard. The home wing hacked through and finished to score a soft try. The conversion was missed, but that left Sundays Well in the lead by 8-0.

After this wake-up call Clonmel began to settle. However, the very vigilant referee and some handling errors made it difficult to maintain momentum. The Cork side’s defence was uncompromising, pushing up aggressively on the Clonmel line, and energetically contesting the breakdowns, where Clonmel were slower to commit. A great midfield break by Tony Cantwell came to nought when the referee again penalised Clonmel at the breakdown. However, a subsequent penalty to Clonmel for a high tackle was exploited by Dylan Cadogan to bring them to within 10 metres of the goal line.

After some earlier misfires the lineout was slick, producing clean ball and the Clonmel pack mauled over the line, with number eight Hosek claiming the try. The well- struck conversion by Cadogan brought the score to 8 - 7 on 32 minutes.

Now Clonmel had the upper hand and Sundays Well’s discipline eroded. When a penalty in midfield was reversed to Clonmel, it provided a crucial entry to the home 22. The visitors’ lineout, now operating smoothly, provided clean, fast ball and when Clonmel punched up the middle the home defence strayed offside. Devaney secured clean lineout ball on the five metre line and Clonmel set the maul. The Sundays Well number eight was binned for persistent fouling, but their defence stood strong until finally, prop Campion muscled over for Clonmel’s second try on 40 minutes, which was converted by the ever-reliable Cadogan.

Sundays Well kicked a penalty in the last move of the half to bring the score to 11 – 14 to Clonmel.

SECOND HALF

The second half began evenly-balanced, with the teams swapping penalties. A great line break by scrum half Alex Sheehan, who had a very influential game, was followed up by Fronak, who carried strongly. The home defence went off their feet and the immaculate Cadogan maintained his 100% record by slotting the penalty to bring the Clonmel lead to 14-20 after 14 minutes of the second half.

After the home side knocked-on on the restart, Cantwell intercepted in midfield to establish good field position. The ball was moved rapidly to the left wing, where Andrew Daly ran aggressively at the Corkmen’s defence. Sheehan was first to the breakdown and sniped through the gaps to cross the line for Clonmel’s third try, 17 minutes into the half. Once again the conversion was secured to bring the score to 14-27 to Clonmel.

Sundays Well were not finished yet, and now produced some of their best rugby of the game. Fast passing by their backs and a clean break in midfield brought them into Clonmel’s 22; then a beautiful crossfield kick was well caught by the right winger, who had the pace and space to get over for the try, which was not converted. It was now 19-27 after 24 minutes of the half, which was the way the score finished, though both sides continued playing excellent rugby.

“The Well” gave as good as they got, maintaining full commitment, energy and showing purpose and threat when they spread the ball, with one line break almost going the whole way. Clonmel brought on Gallagher and Delicato to close out the game.

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Overall Clonmel can be very happy with another away win against a dogged Sundays Well team, who probably deserved a losing bonus point. The pack provided the edge, with the lineout and maul a source of secure ball after an early stutter. Cantwell, captain Devaney, Hosek and Lonergan were dominant in tight and loose.

The half backs controlled the game very well, with some excellent line kicks from Fronek, while Sheehan put in a great display, a constant threat. The backline remained threatening and defended well, though the home team found a few gaps. Dylan Cadogan was impeccable with the boot, finishing with a 100% record.

While this referee may have been over-eager with the whistle, the concession of penalties punctured momentum, allowing the opposition back into the game.

BRUFF VISIT CLONMEL FOR AIL ON SATURDAY

The next game is at home at Ard Gaoithe this Saturday, January 21 against Bruff, who are just a point behind on the table.

Clonmel squad: Niall Campion, Rob Wynne, Dave O’Gorman, Tony Cantwell, Diarmuid Brannock, Diarmuid Devaney, Jack Lonergan, Dan Hosek, Alex Sheehan, Albert Fronek, Andrew Daly, Luke Noonan, Luke Hogan, Dean Slattery, Dylan Cadogan, Brandon Delicato, Liam Ryan, Billy Coffey, John Gallagher, Mathew Hynes, Sean McEntagart, Ronan Brady.