Does anyone know what the Hell is going on? I kept two score sheets in Rosetown last Sunday in the Second’s Towns Cup game between Newbridge RFC and Wicklow RFC. On sheet A Newbridge won by 28 points to 8. On sheet B Wicklow won by 13 penalties to 3. Lets talk a little about sheet A ........ The Newbridge pack was more mature(!), bigger, stronger, and more mobile ..... scrums, lineouts and mauls to the black and yellow boys , no problem ! Yet we struggled to score; time and again we f***ed up due to ‘flow interruption’ caused by referee blowing up for a penalty to Wicklow or they were strong tackled by the black and red men reared within the splash of the spray from the thundering waves of the Irish Sea. Lets set the record straight...... Wicklow had a right cut at us, they tackled like bumper cars at a carnival I was at back in the mid sixties.

 

To my eyes, we were very much the stronger, but the ball just did not flow as it should have ...... if it did we would have been in ‘the point a minute’ zone but through a combination of kicking the ball away, conceding penalties, and a resolute Wicklow defence we sort of struggled!

Our first try arrived after about 15 minutes following a ruck I’m not sure who touched down. Wicklow had spurned a couple of scoring opportunities from penalties before their kicker opened their score to leave it 7 points to 3 at the break. Wicklow at this stage led the penalty count 12-1.

 

Immediately on the resumption Rasher ran exquisitely to touch down under the posts 14-3. Then when their backline were threatening us , Dusty intercepted and ran for the line like a hungry terrier with a bone. 21-3. At this stage Liam, Johnnie D and Darrell O H were asking severe questions of the Wicklow men ...... I decided to become silent until I witnessed the marvellous score fashioned by Ronan Skehan and Cooky who came from deep to take at speed without even thinking about breaking stride........ I have to say is playing very impressively this season- he is very fast, very strong, and plays like he is enjoying himself. The Wicklow pack then fashioned a try which was no more than their bravery and application to the job deserved........ At this stage I went into Johnsons for the grub. I was quite taken with the performance of Wesley Cuffe in our engine room, also with Ronan Skehan when he came on.

 

If we can sort out our ‘giving away penalties’ issue- and flow the ball like we can to our hit men, we will take a bit of stopping in this Cup campaign. Then again so will the young Turks of Enniscorthy, The ould dogs of Tullamore, not to mention our good buddies in Cill Dara and there are bound to be snakes in the grass as it heads for its first mow of the new year.

 

Everyone I met was giving out stink about the match being called off in Paris. The last time Ireland played in the ‘Parc de France’ myself and my buddy Brendan were there. It wasn’t supposed to be cold but we were frozen stiff, we did Mexican waves to try to keep warm That same day Ireland were kicked off the field ...... Gerry Flannery tried to do the same with the French winger, I’m not sure if he has played for Ireland since! Was I glad or what that I was in Clongorey rather than Pigalle midnight last Saturday.

 

PS We visit Naas next weekend for the second round of the Firsts Towns Cup.

 

PS Eile. Tullamore Firsts (finalists for the past three years) and County Carlow as far as the Towns Cup is concerned are Gonesville!