Tough defeat for ’Drum women in Tullamore
at Tullamore
Having charged down two successive attempts by the Tullamore 10 to clear her line, Neasa Clissman was taken out off the ball, in front of the posts, seven meters from the line in what was sure to be a Rathdrum try.
The referee awarded the penalty and Mo Dowling easily kicked the points to give Rathdrum the lead.
Perhaps it was Rathdrum’s eagerness that led to successive, uncharacteristic offside infringements, ultimately allowing Tullamore to re-enter the game.
Suddenly Rathdrum were faced with Tullamore in their 22 for the first time and from the back of a scrum their number 8 drove across the Rathdrum line underneath the posts to put Tullamore infront.
The half closed 3 -7 to Tullamore despite Rathdrum having had probably 90 per cent of the ball and having dominated set pieces.
As the second half opened Tullamore had tidied up their defense even further and despite some fine carrying from the Rathdrum pack, in particular player of day Noelle Ward, there seemed to be no way across the line.
Again it was penalty, well executed and driven through the posts by Mo Dowling which allowed Rathdrum to close the gap to 7–6.
However, Tullamore responded well and a wide ball saw them racing for the try line to score in the corner, the conversion missed.
The final score of the game came from some immense defensive work from a Tullamore scrum.
Once again the Tullamore 8 opted to pick and go, despite being just 15 meters from her own try line.
Flanker Neasa Clissman was quick to close her down and Ann Marie Burke only too eager to steal the ball and dart for the Tullamore line.
Despite the best of efforts from Rathdrum, there were no more scores to come and the game closed, painstakingly, with the narrowest of margins between the two teams, 11-12 to Tullamore.
Squad: Linda Dempsey, Noelle Ward, Hannah Fennell, Nikki Fennell, Aine Geoghegan, Neasa Clissman, Kellie Fennell, Ann-Marie Burke, Lisa Cahill, Mo Dowling (C), Heather Cullen, Sammy McCoy, Sue Brady, Nicola Souster, Caitlin Olohan, Lindsey Madge, Laura Kavanagh.