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Leinster League

Division 1A

 

Tullamore 19
Newbridge 17

After two victories by a single score Newbridge found out what it’s like to be on the losing side of a narrow margin.

It came down to a difficult conversion attempt to secure a draw but John McNamara’s kick faded just left and wide.

Newbridge had played the better rugby and forcing the Tullamore defence to work hard throughout the game.

The entire Newbridge pack carried the ball well into contact, while McNamara at outhalf distributed well and kicked accurately from the hand.

Twice in the game Newbridge were in promising positions but errors in the lineout handed possession back to the home side letting them off the hook.

Tullamore played the percentage game, concentrating on stopping Newbridge playing rather than trying to attack when in possession.

At times the first-up tackling let Tullamore get more territory than they deserved in an otherwise good Newbridge performance.
Despite some good earlier pressure Newbridge were 9-0 behind at the end of the first quarter thanks to three penalties, including one excellent long range kick.

McNamara got on the scoreboard after 25 minutes as the Newbridge pack got to grips with game with props Cillian O’Shea and Mark Southern carrying the ball impressively into contact.

The back row of John Southern, Niall Duggan and Jonny Downey were also excellent in the loose, combining well in open play.
One break by Duggan resulted in a kick in front of the posts for McNamara for a 9-6 scoreline.

More Newbridge pressure saw another penalty and they opted for the corner looking for the first try of the game.
Instead they lost the ball but then a turnover saw another Newbridge penalty to let McNamara equalise at halftime.

The second half saw Tullamore get another penalty as a Newbridge handling error gave them a foothold in Newbridge territory.
John Southern produced a great break from inside his own half giving McNamara a long range penalty opportunity which he couldn’t convert.

Both teams then had players sin-binned in quick succession but neither could convert the resulting penalties.
Again Newbridge lost the lineout form a penalty into the corner but some magic from Ben Swindlehurst in the centre almost saw Newbridge cross the line.

McNamara converted a penalty to even the scores with about ten minutes left to play.

Tullamore then won a lineout in the Newbridge 22, and the loose ball fell to the
No.8 whose arcing run out-flanked the scramble tacklers to score close to the post with the conversion added, to make it 19-12.

Newbridge came back with determination at least looking for a share of the spoils with a series of pick and jams by the pack, that was eventually rewarded with a try from Jonny Downey.

The missed conversion, however, meant that Newbridge had to be content with a loser’s bonus point.

Newbridge: Robbie Waters, Neal Hogan, Ben Swindlehurst, Denis O’Callaghan, Dave Hogan, John McNamara, Massey Tuhakaraina, Jonny Downey, Niall Duggan, John Southern, Liam Heavey, Terry Donnelly, Cillian O’Shea, Gareth O’Reilly, Mark Southern.