Rathdrum show promise but rue missed chances

RATHDRUM STILLORGAN 5 12

RATHDRUM welcomed Stillorgan to the Ivy Leaf Grounds on Sunday for their second home league game of the season.

Like previous games, Rathdrum showed promise with the ball in attack but were unable to convert that possession in to scores and that proved costly in the end.

Neither team were dominating the opening half when some weak defence allowed Stillorgan to score an unconverted try on the 20 minute mark.

Stillorgan will probably feel they should have added to the score line before half time as they were playing with the wind but Rathdrum clung on to go in at half-time 5-0 down.

Some stern words from coach Neil Short at half-time seemed to do the trick as Rathdrum upped their work-rate in the second half and dominated possession but errors at crucial times let Stillorgan off the hook.

A crucial blow to Rathdrum came midway through the half.

Rathdrum were attacking in Stillorgans ‘22’ but a loose pass was picked up by the opposing centre who ran the length of the field to score under the posts.

Stillorgan’s veteran out half added the extras to take the score to 12-0 in favour of the south Dublin team.

Rathdrum could have dropped their heads but to their credit they kept attacking through strong running from the Dowling brothers – Steven and Danny, Matt Binnions and Dean Franey.

Rathdrum scored their only try of the game on the hour mark when a maul from a lineout was stopped five metres short of the line. Replacement scrum half David Woolmington gave good ball to outhalf Conor Parsons who went over for the try. The try was unconverted.

Aonghus O Bhrian, Calvin Swords and Sean Kinsella were running hard to try and get Rathdrum back on level terms but Stillorgan’s defence was holding firm and the stop-start nature of the game seemed to dent Rathdrum’s momentum.

Liam De Hora was working tirelessly at the breakdown providing turnovers for Rathdrum to mount more attacks and for the rest of the game Rathdrum had the majority of possession.

Sensing an opportunity to at least claim a draw, Rathdrum were awarded a penalty on halfway with the last play of the game. Kicking the ball in to Stillorgan territory, Rathdrum set up a maul from the ensuing lineout and were moving forward but another turnover meant the chance was gone and the referee blew the final whistle.

Rathdrum feel they could have got something from the game but basic errors let them down on the day.

Rathdrum now have a twoweek break which they feel may be coming at the right time so they can get on to the training pitch and get ready for their next game away to Lansdowne.

Robyn Wood, Dean Franey, Ronan Smith, Michael Dowling, Matt Binnions, Calvin Swords, Liam De Hora, Danny Dowling, Steven Dowling, Conor Parsons, Denis Heffernan, Ciaran Phelan, Aonghus O’Briain, Niall Fennell, Sean Kinsella, Steven Fennell, David Woolmington, Dylan Kenny, John Shane

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