BIG WIN FOR ’DRUM
Division 1 squad come away with points from Mullingar
MULLINGAR RATHDRUM 5 10
LAST Sunday Rathdrum RFC fielded two senior women’s teams; a first for the club with 34 players donning the Rathdrum jersey.
The Division 1 squad travelled to Mullingar, where despite a bright opening, much of the game made for a lackluster affair and perhaps a lucky escape. Rathdrum started with a slight breeze at their backs, on a misty Astro in Mullingar.
The opening minutes of the game looked as though Rathdrum could repeat the effort of the week previous, with strong line breaks from player of the day Hannah Fennell and in the back line, particularly through Caitlin Olohan.
The opening score was Rathdrum’s, as Noelle Ward took a ball at pace, the Mullingar defensive line was no match for her strength. She sprinted across the line to open the scoreboard, the conversion was not to be and the score sat at 5-0.
Not long after Caitlin Olohan stretched her legs to power through the Mullingar defense and score Rathdrum’s second try, again the conversion went astray and the score sat at 10-0.
Although there was no clear reason, perhaps over eagerness, perhaps distraction, but Rathdrum’s attack lost all shape.
Although conditions were tough, there were far too many dropped balls and knock-ons for the standard Rathdrum have set themselves.
Although they attacked hard with ball in hand, play was somewhat fragmented and there were no more scores to come from the first half.
Mullingar rallied in the second half and Rathdrum found themselves defending for much of the half.
Despite some hard tackles, and significant pressure from Aoife Mc Grath in particular, Mullingar retained the ball. Eventually Mullingar were able to expose Rathdrum and score on the right wing, the conversion failed and the game closed 10-5 to Rathdrum.
The Division 4 squad took on CYM at home; despite Rathdrum fielding a full squad, CYM could only field ten so a 10-a-side game was played.
This Rathdrum squad is a relatively new outfit with a good mix of returning players and U18 players moving to senior. In a similar fashion to scenes in Mullingar, Rathdrum started very brightly, with strong ball carriers creating havoc for the CYM defense. Before long, the Rathdrum experience shone through, a clever quickly taken tap and go penalty from Siobhan Parsons put Rathdrum on the front foot. A good draw and pass put Captain Grainne Short into space, Grainne powered through the CYM defender to score under the posts. Nicola Souster converted to put the score 7–0.
Rathdrum continued to work hard, with the forward pack in particular gaining ground, before long Rathdrum were back in the CYM 22 marching towards the line, eventually the hard work paid off and player of the day Ellen Fox drove across the line for Rathdrum’s second try.
The conversion was not to be and Rathdrum led 12-0. Despite some solid work from Rathdrum, thwarting every CYM effort; in particular Lynda Woolmington disrupting the well-practiced CYM maul, Rathdrum could not manage any more scores before half time and the half closed 12-0.
CYM returned to the second half a much rejuvenated squad and quickly made up for their errs of the first half darting across to score under the posts-the conversion missed.
Rathdrum responded well with fine line breaks from Ellen Fox and Brittany North but were not rewarded for their efforts.
However, CYM were up for the game and came at full force for Rathdrum, some powerhouse defending by Clarisse Broughan, Ellen Fox, Tanya Carter and Vicky Doyle kept them at bay.
However, CYM were eventually rewarded for their efforts and managed one more score under the posts.
Again the conversion was missed and Rathdrum came away victorious.
The club would like to congratulate Clarisse, Tanya, Roisin Lauren an Aoife on their first Senior caps.
Next weekend see our Division 1 side at home to Old Belvedere at 1:30pm whilst our Division 4 squad travel to Wicklow at 1pm.