Leinster League

Division 1A

Coolmine 39
Newbridge 7

 

Newbridge scored just one try when Massey Tuhakaraina produced a break at centre which saw Denis O’Callaghan win possession at the line for Ben Swindlehurst to score.

But by then there was just ten minutes left in the game and Newbridge were trailing 32-7 with Coolmine already satisfied with the winner’s bonus point in the bag.

 

Although missing a number of frontline regulars it’s unlikely they could have made much of a difference against a Coolmine side clearly up for the fixture.

 

The ominous signs for Newbridge were apparent early in the game and trailed 18-0 by halftime.

 

At that stage the only difference between the two teams was that Coolmine took their chances when they appeared.
Second-row Terry Donnelly made one telling break but was help up close to the line and the support runners failed to exploit the line-break.

 

A high penalty count didn’t help Newbridge cause.

 

Winger Dave Hogan, also came close when he made one superb counter-attack from deep inside his own half to bring play to with five metres of the line.

 

Although the support players were there as Coolmine went offside, Swindlehurst missed the penalty chance when Newbridge were trailing 8-0.

 

Coolmine had been first on the scoreboard with an early penalty and then an easily worked over-lap saw the left winger through for a try after 20 minutes.

 

The home side piled on the misery with a second try from off a lineout on 32 minutes followed by a second penalty before halftime.

 

Although Newbridge dominated the scrums where Mark Southern, Gareth O’Reilly and Cillian O’Shea had the upper hand they weren’t able to convert that pressure into points.

 

Newbridge played some good tight rugby going through the phases but Coolmine remained patient and resolute in defence.

 

Early in the second half Newbridge tried hard and dominated the territory, but Coolmine struck back with a third try again from a set piece for a 25-0 lead.

 

Brendan Tierney at flanker made one great break but again Newbridge couldn’t make best use of the possession and Coolmine withstood some heavy pressure from the Newbridge pack.

 

The bonus point try for Coolmine came with ten minutes to go, with their second centre getting his second from off a scrum for a 32-0 lead.

 

From the restart Newbridge got their consolation try, but even then Coolmine weren’t finished scoring a fifth try at the death.

 

Next Saturday Newbridge face another tough fixture in a local derby against Cill Dara who will be targeting the game as a must-win fixture.

 

Match report coutesy of www.newbridgerugby.com

 

Newbridge: Mark Southern, Gareth, O’Reilly, Cillian O’Shea, Terry Donnelly, Liam Heavey, Eoin Walsh, Brendan Tierney, John Southern, Massy Tuhakaraina, Sean Kelly, Dave Hogan, Massey Tuhakaraina, Ben Swindlehurst, Denis O’Callaghan, Neal Hogan, Robbie Waters.