Thurles RFC battle to a stalemate against strong Richmond outfit

Munster Junior 1 Rugby League - Round 11

Thurles RFC 17

Richmond 17

Thurles travelled to Richmond RFC in the heart of Limerick city last Sunday in Round 11 of the Munster Junior 1 league. 

This was a game that both teams probably felt that they had done enough to win, two close shaves of the post on conversion attempts on a couple of Thurles tries may have just got the job done, but a very valuable two points were garnered in any case, in what was a difficult away game. 

With the battle to avoid being dragged into the bottom two relegation places intensifying, this weekend’s result sees Thurles moving up to fifth from the bottom, but only five points separate the bottom five teams with two games remaining.

In good conditions for rugby, Thurles kicked off with the aid of the breeze and were quickest to settle having the best of the opening fifteen minutes whilst failing to capitalise on a couple of scoring chances. 

Thurles' first score came from a good attacking move from deep in their own half where they moved the ball to the left wing to Sean McGrath who offloaded inside to James O’Meara on the halfway, O’Meara powered through a couple of would-be tacklers and broke free into the Richmond 22, before offloading to his ever-present back row Mark Cummins who was supporting inside. 

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With a bit of work to do, Cummins outsprinted the remaining cover to dot down just left of the posts – the try was well converted by Jack Flanagan. The remaining 20 or so minutes of the half belonged to the home team, and they dominated field position and possession in the Thurles half. Stout defence by Thurles defying them on three occasions when a score looked imminent. 

But Thurles after winning good possession and clearing their lines handed the initiative back again and again through an inability to win lineout possession or disrupt the Richmond throw. The dam finally broke five minutes before half-time when Richmond, who were troubling Thurles all day on their left flank put their winger away to score from 30 metres. The conversion was missed to leave the half-time score at 7-5 in favour of Thurles.

The home team were first out of the blocks in the second half, when Brian Mullins the experienced Richmond centre who was pulling the attacking strings all day for the home team put his outside centre through a hole in the Thurles defence just inside the Thurles half enabling him to sprint in under the posts despite the best efforts of the Thurles cover. 

With the easy conversion from in front, this made the score 12-7 in favour of the home team with nine minutes elapsed in the second half. Thurles responded well and within nine minutes had restored parity, a great break up field by Sean McGrath gained good field position for Thurles in the Richmond 22. 

Thurles retained possession well with a series of phases by the pack before Sam Quinlan popped the ball to Sonny Dwyer, just on the pitch for Matty Kelly, coming around the corner to crash over from five metres. The conversion attempt back into a stiff breeze was narrowly missed by Jack Flanagan. 

With 15 minutes left to play Richmond were reduced to 13 men and Thurles through successive penalties gained field position in the Richmond 22. A good lineout and maul set up attacking phases for Thurles with them stretching the home team from side to side. 

Donnacha Ryan, who had a huge game in the second row for Thurles, went close in the corner but had the ball dislodged just as he crossed the line. The Thurles pack demolished the Richmond scrum from the knock-on and won a penalty. 

A great initial drive from the ensuing penalty tap by Peter Kinane eventually led to Sam Quinlan powering over the line with the assistance of Gerry McCormack and Donnacha Ryan on the latch.

This was a great performance by the entire Thurles squad in a difficult away venue and the pack were immense against a big Richmond outfit. 

Thurles RFC: John Shaw, Shane Nugent, Gerry McCormack, Donnacha Ryan, Peter Kinane, Mark Cummins, Dan Lanigan Ryan, Sam Quinlan, Seamus Holohan, James Maher, Matty Kelly, Luke Fogarty, James O’Meara, Sean McGrath, Jack Flanagan. 

Subs used: Bryan O’Connell (Dan Lanigan Ryan), Ciaran Murphy (for Shane Nugent), Brandon Meany, James Butler (for Gerry McCormack), (for Mark Cummins), Ricardo Prandi (for Jack Flanagan), Sonny Dwyer (for Matty Kelly).