Dundalk stop the rot with demolition job on hosts
DUNDALK travelled to Sydney Parade on Saturday to play Monkstown RFC in round seven of the Leinster League.
This was going to be a tough one as Dundalk were out for a win after narrowly losing their last three games by a single point.
Dundalk started the game strong from the kick-off and Monkstown were unable to contain the early pressure which saw Robert Williams go over for the first try.
From the restart Dundalk once again took it to Monkstown, with some great interplay between the forwards and backs.
Monkstown turned it over and kicked it back down to the Dundalk half, but a box kick from scrum half Mike Walls led to the ever-present full back Stephen McGee fielding the ball to race over the line for try number two.
Monkstown didn’t give up and after forcing a lineout on the Dundalk 22 they mauled over for a try.
The restart saw the high-flying skills of Robert Williams pluck the ball from the air. The forwards carried well, allowing Dundalk to gain precious yards, and when the ball was moved out from right to left, the club’s new convert from the back row Laurence Steen crossed the line for his first try as a back.
That allowed Dundalk to take a 20-10 lead into the interval.
Dundalk started off the second half as they did the first and with the forwards carrying well and constantly gaining yards their Kiwi Cole Stewart crossed the line for a try.
Dundalk seemed to turn on the boosters in the second half, with more aerial displays from Robert Williams allowing them to break down the Monkstown defence. A lovely switch between McDonald and Williams saw Jonathan Williams cross the line for a try.
With Monkstown constantly infringing at the breakdown, the boot of Gearoid McDonald kept them pinned back in their own half and from one of these lineouts the side’s Munster second row Enda Murphy crossed the line for Dundalk’s sixth try.
Monkstown didn’t give up and were using their former Munster and Wasps centre James Downey to try to break down the away defence, but they were denied by a huge hit from prop Robert Farrell which was reminiscent of Tadgh Furlong’s a few hours later.
Dundalk face second-placed Enniscorthy this Saturday in Mill Rd which is their last home game before Christmas. All support would be greatly appreciated for what should be a great game. DUNDALK: Jonathan Gray, Sean Arrowsmith, John Smith, Greg Whatelym, Enda Murphy, Stephen Martin, Cole Stewart, David Whately, Michael Walls, Jonathan Williams, Robert Williams, Gearoid McDonald, Laurence Steen, Derek Williams, Stephen McGee. Subs: Robert Farrell, Ciaran Brannigan, Andrew Williams, Ciaran Lennon, Ultan Murphy.