UCD too good for brave ’Drum
Historic day at the Ive Leaf
UCD were the visitors to the Ivy Leaf for Rathdrum’s penultimate game of 2017. This was a historic day for the club as it was the first time Rathdrum had hosted three senior games on the same day.
The students came in to this game as strong favourites and they proved too strong in the end for a brave Rathdrum side.
As seems to be the theme of the season so far, Rathdrum started slow and after only five minutes of play UCD had scored their first try of the day with their winger crossing out wide to open the scoring. The conversion was missed to leave the score 5-0 to the visitors.
It seemed like it was going to be a long day at the office for the home side but Rathdrum dominated possession for the next quarter of the game. A Conor Parsons penalty saw the home side trailing 5-3 with 20 minutes played.
The final 20 minutes of the first half was the turning point for both sides. UCD scored three quick tries to more or less have this game won before the halfway mark. UCD’s third try was a wonderful back line move seeing their full back enter the line at speed and offload to the winger who touched down under the posts. This was hard for Rathdrum to take after they felt they were more than matching UCD in the first half but some lapses in concentration left the score at 26-3 at half-time.
Rathdrum felt they had nothing to lose in the second half and really came out to play for the rest of the game. Again strong running by a number of forwards, notably Johnny Conway, Steven Fennell and Danny Dowling, set Rathdrum up on the front foot and they went on to score 2 tries in the half.
The first came from a number of carries in close from the hard working forward pack and the towering Matt Binnions picked from all of one yard out to power over to open Rathdrum’s account for the half. Conor Parsons converted and this gave the home a lift to kick on for the rest of the half.
Rathdrum’s backs were working hard to get themselves in some attacking positions and guided by Steven Dowling and David Woolmington at half backs Rathdrum dominated the rest of the game.
Player of the day Ciaran Phelan and his centre partner Shane Byrne were making yards up the middle and this gave the forwards some go forward ball from which Rathdrum got their second try.
A perfect lineout throw in UCD’s half from hooker Dean Franey allowed Danny Dowling to gather and run almost unopposed over the try line to the delight of the home crowd.
Conor Parsons again kicked the conversion from out wide and Rathdrum gave themselves a chance to perhaps pull off an upset with the scores at 26-17.
However UCD used all their experience to get themselves back in to Rathdrum territory and again a well worked move saw their winger cross the white line to touch down. An excellent conversion from the UCD out- half left the score at 3317 and any hope of a comeback was well and truly crushed.
Rathdrum’s heads didn’t drop and they kept working until the end but they could not find a way to break down a solid UCD defence despite hard running from wingers Fiach O’Toole and Aonghus O’Briain. UCD finished the game kicking a penalty and the game finished 36-17 to the students.
Rathdrum will feel they more than matched their opponents but the 20 minute period before half time was ultimately the difference on the day.
Rathdrum welcome league leaders Skerries for their last game of 2017 this weekend and feel that if they can improve on some aspects of their play they can look to cause an upset and set themselves up for a cup run in early 2018.
Rathdrum: Robyn Wood, Dean Franey, Steven Fennell, Ciaran O’Neill, Matt Binnions, Johnny Conway, Liam De Hora, Danny Dowling, Steven Dowling, David Woolmington, Fiach O’Toole, Ciaran Phelan, Shane Byrne, Aonghus O’Briain, Conor Parsons, John Shane.