Defeat leaves clash with Birr of huge import for Arklow

NORTH MEATH ARKL0W RFC 22 3

AFTER a long and erratic break due to Christmas and Emma, Arklow finally got on to the field to play the New Year’s first match,

The weather was good for the time of year but the pitch was badly torn up due to a previous match being played on it that morning.

This was to favour the home side whose pack were heavier and played the conditions much better than Arklow.

Arklow started well with good rucking and mauling North Meath’s bigger pack but the home side secured first blood with an easy penalty from in front of the posts.

North Meath soon saw the advantage of keeping the ball in their forwards and rucking and mauling the ball from all over the pitch.

Arklow sniped at the North’s try line bur were not able to cross the try line despite great effort. North Meath continued exerting their strategy of punching holes in Arklow’s defences their bigger pack and astute kicking from their number 10; Arklow couldn’t get a foothold for any long period in North Meath’s danger zone.

The result was that North Meath kept Arklow pinned in their own half and pressurising the Arklow defenders.

The pressure paid off for the home side with a well worked tryout on Arklow’s wing plus a difficult conversion put North 10 points to nil up at the break.

North’s Meath half time talk was simple choke the life out of this half, take the ball through phase after phase and the condition under foot will help and that was exactly how North Meath played all of the second 40 minutes.

Arklow defended well but the smaller Arklow forwards didn’t stop tackling and counter attacking at every chance.

Continued pressure from the North’s forwards kept the ball from Arklow and the home side were rewarded with a further two tries one of which was converted.

Arklow tried to get some points from this game and finished in North’s 22 and were rewarded with a penalty.

The home side wanted the win that little bit more, conditions suited their bigger forwards and the state of pitch surface suited this style of play.

Arklow are now in a precarious league position second form bottom with one last home game against Birr next Sunday.

The final league promotion or relegation issues will not be decided until these final series of games are played as any of the leagues bottom four teams can stay up or have to play off to avoid relegation.

Arklow’s destiny is in their own willingness to go flat out for a home win with a bonus point if possible to give them the best chance of survival.

All who wear the Arklow jersey in this match against fellow strugglers Birr must stand up and be counted?

It’s a day when Arklow must win this match with no excuses when this game is over.

To quote a well hackneyed cliché “leave it all on the pitch” next Sunday.