Dundalk Rugby Club nearly let big lead slip
Dundalk 29 Suttonians 24
DUNDALK scored a five-point win on Saturday at home to Suttonians to move to within a point of Division 1A league leaders Ashbourne in a match with can be described as the proverbial game of two halves.
A 25-minute period in the first half saw the Mill Road side take what would turn out to be an unassailable lead, but Adam Doyle’s men almost let the game get away from them in the latter stages.
Twenty-one-year-old New Zealand import Willie Schutz opened the scoring on 14 minutes after some sustained pressure as a Ronan Greene offload put the Kiwi into space on the touchline and he raced over the line. Schutz tacked on the conversion and minutes later added a penalty for a 10-0 lead.
Then came Dundalk’s best spell of the game as in an eight-minute period they added a further 15 points to their total. First up, club captain Jonathan Williams touched down out wide, and then Dundalk moved the ball quickly through the hands and James McConnon exploited a gap to score the game’s third try.
Schutz, who failed to convert Williams’ score, this time added the conversion to give the hosts a 22-0 lead.
A late rally in the first half saw Suttonians go over twice, and with one of the two conversions being a success Dundalk’s lead was down to 10 with the break looming.
However, with time almost up in that opening period the hosts showed a flash of brilliance when full back Robert Williams took possession in midfield and his speed and footwork took him to the Suttonians 22 before he played in Eoin Sullivan for the bonus-point try.
Schutz made no mistake from the tee, taking his personal tally to 63 points across the opening six games and the overall score to 29-10.
The second half would see Dundalk fail to add another point to their total, though, despite several chances. Deteriorating weather and poor handling really hampered the home side’s ability to score.
The Dubliners enjoyed a period of dominance early in the second period and they scored two unanswered tries to make it a one-score game with 19 minutes remaining.
Schutz had three attempts from penalties but narrowly missed the mark on all three occasions as Dundalk struggled to move the scoreboard on.
It was their defence which really got them out of jail towards the end as they held firm, with Tiernan Gonnelly and McConnon both making some important tackles. McConnon in particular turned the ball over at some key moments in the final moments as Dundalk found themselves pinned back.
While it’s early in the season Doyle’s side have now opened a gap to the chasing pack. Gorey are eight points behind in third and the pre-season goal of merely avoiding relegation almost looks achieved as their sights are surely set a lot higher now.
Indeed, Dundalk face basement side Wicklow on Saturday at Ashtown Lane, with a 2.30 start. Doyle will be hoping his side can continue their form which has seen them now win five of their opening six games in the division. DUNDALK: Robert Williams; Ronan Greene, Andrew Williams, Willie Schutz, Jonathan Williams; Conor Hennessy, Gauthier Petit; Conor Williams, Seán Arrowsmith, Robert Farrell; Eoin Sullivan, Ben Mortimer; James McConnon, Laurence Steen, Tiernan Gonnelly. Replacements: Jonathan Gray, John Smith, Alistair McCormack, Greg Whatley, Jack Connolly.