Round-up of all the weekend rugby action
ARKLOW RFC 17 MIDLAND WARRIORS 8
ON probably the worst winter’s day so far this year Arklow were at home to Midland Warriors.
The poor weather tended to equalise any advantage Arklow might have. Under such atrocious conditions both sides deserve great credit for the ball handling skills on display.
The home side seemed to underestimate their opponents for the first ten minutes and were guilty of waiting off, and not doing the necessary work to create a score.
For the first ten minutes Midland were rucking and mauling their way into the Arklow danger zone and were soon awarded a very kickable penalty which was con- verted. No sooner had the kick off been taken when Midland ran in a try and Arklow were shell-shocked, down eight points to the home sides no score.
The conditions worsened, with wind, and rain, and darkness but the teams continued to play attacking rugby.
Arklow now got the bit between their teeth and started to test the quality of the Midland defence after continuous pressure on the away side’s line Arklow were awarded a penalty try which was deserved for the constant pressure Arklow were applying to their opponents whitewash.
A more even game with both sides trying their best to score but the score remained the same up to the break; Arklow seven points, Midland eight points.
Arklow struggled from the be- ginning of the second period as they attempted to run every ball from their own twenty two metre area.
Midlands now pulled an old trick with no spare props Arklow had to contend with uncontested scrums which equalised any advantage Arklow had in their scrum.
A strategic well placed kick could have made a lot less work for the Arklow team.
For the first twenty minutes of the second half Arklow were put under severe pressure but their defence was never lacking and after almost half the period a well placed kick brought Arklow in the Midland danger zone.
Midland had the put in to the line out. Midland managed to put in crooked which gave Arklow possession on their opponent’s five metre line.
Some great aggressive rucking and mauling saw Ben Diaper cross the try line for a well earned try.
The conversion was good and Arklow now were a different side
No holds barred Arklow went into the Midland twenty two and foraged with constant pressure. Their rucking was top notch, and this was both the time and place to keep the ball.
Due to the constant pressure Arklow were awarded a penalty from about thirty metres and some backchat from the Warriors saw the referee bring the ball a further ten meters to the posts.
The penalty was well converted denying Midland a bonus point. This maybe important before the season is finished,
Seventeen points to eight as Midlands did not score after the first ten minutes. This was due to good tackling by all the Arklow team.
The conditions militated against fast running rugby. Midland probably played the weather slightly better than Arklow but Arklow more than made up for this with heart and great commitment throughout the whole game.
A small point Arklow must learn to play the conditions that exist on the day if there is wind and rain a boot will get you into the danger area quicker and easier than rucks and mauls.
The game was a game of two halves the first twenty minutes of the second half and the better last twenty.
This game was down to Arklow’s performance, in last twenty minutes of the game Midland Warriors were kept in their own half and twenty two from where few teams can win any game.
Well done again to Arklow from good strategic kicking and, captaincy, and a good hard working pack (two penalty tries in the last two games) and talented running backs with courage. Plus good coaching and backup staff.
There is still a long difficult league ahead, continue to play like the last period and Arklow won’t go far wrong.
No game next week Balbriggan at home on the 25th November. A very telling fixture.
ARKLOW RFC PANEL FROM: Ben Byrne Diaper, Cathal Louth (capt.), Anthony O’Donnell, Jack Joyce, Joe Bulmer, John Furlong, Tom Scarfe, Richard Murphy, Gavin Byrne, Michael O Scannail, Peter Lynch, Ben Kavanagh, Paddy Ryan, Shane Mc Allister, Jonnie Butterworth, Gavin Cox, John Louth, Colley Doyle, Eddie Tobin, James Stenning, Paddy Brennan, P J Keogh.