Leinster Provincial Towns Cup

Round 2

Newbridge 10   Clondalkin 20

A Towns Cup match played in cold wintry conditions and on a pitch which was very soft underfoot. Clondalkin won this game scoring two converted tries and two penalties to Newbridge’s one converted try and a penalty. Clondalkin were more powerful in the scrum and managed the mauls well. Newbridge in the second period did not use the strong breeze to any effect.

Clondalkin started this game with real intent and scored a penalty from their outhalf Jack Holland in the 6^th minute from in front of the posts.  This was followed in the 11^th minute with a well taken try from their right winger Darren Madden and it was converted by Holland. They then added to their total with a penalty from close in by Holland in the 18^th minute. It took Newbridge a good 20 minutes before they got into the game. In the 24^th minute outhalf Robbie Waters converted a penalty from 32 meters out.  There was a good bit of Newbridge pressure for the remainder of the half but their handling in the sticky conditions was poor. The half time score was 3 points to 13.

Playing with the wind in the second half there was early Newbridge pressure but their close in scrum came to nothing. Dylan O’Keeffe replaced winger Zach Meehan on 50 minutes for Newbridge. Against the run of paly in the 57^th minute the Clondalkin winger Niall Nolan got a loose ball on the halfway line and managed to hack it ahead to get the touchdown under the posts. Holland converted. Newbridge began to throw off the shackles and in the 63^rd minute winger Dylan O’Keeffe made a great weaving run to score in the corner. Robbie Waters converted. With time running out it was Clondalkin who had the late pressure.

Best for Newbridge were Tom Treacy at No. 8 and their team captain Jeff Draper at wing forward while Denis Clarke in the centre made some good trusts. For Clondalkin Tom McGrath in the second row did well as well as both wingers Darren Madden and Niall Nolan.

Newbridge: Dave Morgan, Alfie Thompson, Brendan Commane, Scott McMullan, Cameron English, Mike Doyle, Jeff Draper (Capt), Tom Treacy, Kevin Commane, Robbie Waters, Zack Meehan, Denis Clarke, Karl Darragh, Fergal Doyle, Donal Cashman, Adam Bingham, Brendan Tiernan, Callum Reynolds Sourke, Ronan Skehan, Dylan O’Keefe, Pierce Dargan, Conor Spratt.

Clondalkin: Ryan Maher, Darren Madden, David Jebb, Eoin Delaney, Niall Nolan, Jack Holland, Thomas Ankers, Kevin Dunphy, Brian Doyle, Ken Mahor, Marcus Doyle, Tom McGrath, Aaron Donnelly, Neil Finlay, Simon King, Stephen McKenna, Darren Madden, Eoghan Farrell, Andrew Tyndall, Thomas Duffy.