RATHDRUM RFC SKERRIES RFC
RATHDRUM hosted league leaders Skerries at a bitterly cold Ivy Leaf for their first game of 2018 and their loyal band of supporters were treated to a great game of rugby. Again it was a game of two very different halves for the Rathdrum men.
Unlike previous games where Rathdrum started slowly, it was the home side that got straight in to the action and took the game to the visitors.
Welcoming back experienced players Ronan Phelan, Shane Burch and Danny Tuke from long term injury, Rathdrum were the better side in the first half. As usual, strong running from captain Danny Dowling and Matt Binnions put Rathdrum on the front foot and pinned Skerries back in their own half. A couple of turnovers early on saw Skerries able to clear their lines and relieve the pressure from the home side.
Skerries first attack saw the games first points. Skerries had a line out in Rathdrums ’22 and spread the ball wide to the centres. Rathdrums Conor Parsons intercepted a pass from the Skerries out half to run 80 metres to dot down under the posts and convert his own try.
This seemed to give the home side some belief and five minutes later Parsons added a long range penalty to extend their lead to 10-0.
Skerries realised they were now in a game and dominated the last 10 minutes of the half. Rathdrum defended for their lives and the front row of Tuke, Ronan Smith and Dean Franey were putting in big hits to repel any attacks coming from the Dublin side.
The pressure told just before half time when a lovely miss pass to their right winger allowed him to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try.
That left the scores at half-time 10-5 to the home side.
Skerries came out a different side in the second half and the long Christmas break perhaps