Heavy loss puts Boyne under ‘More’ pressure

AN encouraging start proved to be a false dawn for Boyne as they shipped a heavy defeat in the midlands on Saturday to remain bottom of the AIL Division 2C table.

Coming off the disappointing result against fellow strugglers Kanturk the week before, Boyne made the journey to Tullamore hoping for a better result, in the knowledge that they had run their great rivals close in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.

For the opening 20 minutes it looked as if they might well reverse the previous result as they played excellent rugby to forge an eight-point lead. They opened with a determination and no little panache to really take the game to Tullamore and this was rewarded with an excellent try after seven minutes when they forced a lineout from one of their offensives.

A good, clean take won possession which was transferred to the outside backs and following a series of excellent transfers across the line, full back Eoghan Duffy made an incisive inside run to receive the scoring pass for a fine try.

Out half Niall Kerbey missed the conversion, but there was plenty optimism at this stage among the Boyne travelling support. Their side was in the ascendency and presenting problems for Tullamore, with good work in the ruck and maul along with plenty of running rugby which had the opposition floundering.

Their lead increased a short time later when, following more combined good work by forwards and backs, they had a series of phases from which out half Kerbey decided to drop a field goal to make it 8-0 to the Drogheda men.

However, as the game ticked into the second quarter Tullamore began to exert some pressure and a lost Boyne lineout on the half-way line saw them concede a penalty from the ensuing ruck.

Boyne’s concentration lapsed and the Tullamore kicker decided to ‘tap and go’, outwitting the Boyne defence to sprint away before feeding scrum half Deverall to go under the posts for their opening score in the 26th minute, which was easily converted by full back Dunne.

Despite Boyne’s best efforts to restore their earlier dominance, it was Tullamore who proceeded to take control and - in the 29th minute - the lead as Boyne went offside to concede a penalty and Dunne landed the kick.

Boyne attempts to penetrate the home side’s defence were contained and with Tullamore now starting to run, pass and kick with more confidence, the visitors found themselves conceding penalties which denied them attacking options.

Tullamore were now in free running mode and they increased their lead when Boyne lost a lineout and the hosts made good use of the resultant possession to score their second try which was converted by full back Dunne.

Just before half-time Tullamore really put daylight between the teams when they scored a marvellous try, with their forwards doing the initial hard work to bring play deep into Boyne danger territory before their backs took over and completed the task, with centre Dylan Kelso crossing for a try in the corner - 22-8.

Boyne faced a mammoth task in the second half but did make a bold bid to narrow the scoring gap just after the interval when Duffy made a great break from deep in his own half and almost made the Tullamore line.

However, this came to nothing and despite a spirited effort they could not stem the flow of a Tullamore side who crossed for three more tries to bring their scoring tally to 43, with a league bonus point also secured.

There will be plenty to ponder for the Boyne team and mentors following such a bright opening to the game which promised so much.

There is no doubt, in the main, that this is a young Boyne outfit and they are in a rut at the moment, with matters not going their way. They do have some fine players in their squad and enough experience in their ranks to steady the ship for the coming games.

There have been a number of injuries and withdrawals from the squad which has not helped their cause, but there is still a resolve in the squad to preserve their AIL status and with seven games to go this is certainly possible. Navan Rainey Sligo Tullamore Bruff Bangor Midleton Kanturk Seapoint Boyne