Arklow have too much firepower for Garda RFC

ARKLOW RFC GARDA RFC 38 3

THE game of rugby is a function of the whole club both men and ladies.

In order to be successful in the modern game both genders must be attempting to win their respective matches. The club is the winner when either is successful.

So it was in both matches the ladies team who are having a reasonable season but this win will give them confidence and the courage to press forward and seek more wins.

Arklow’s men side may have started this game with the attitude that they had beaten Garda away by a goodly margin. So a home game should be no problem for Arklow. Garda were a side who thought they might surprise the Arklow team and set about contesting every ball and applied pressure whenever they had possession.

A very strong gale was blowing across the Arklow pitch towards the sea and this made long passes very risky. A clever kicking game was the best way to gain ground.

Arklow managed the conditions better than their opponents and were rewarded with a well worked try in the corner. The conversion was missed so the home side were five points to nil in the lead.

Arklow then conceded a soft penalty which was duly converted by Garda. The scoring was 5 points Arklow and 3 points to Garda. The first half petered out with the score line was still at 5 points Arklow 3 points to the visitors.

The game was well balanced and whichever team took the initiative would win this game.

The second half was all Arklow at their best. Arklow upped the ante from the kick off. The home side kept pressurising and stretching the Garda defence testing its mettle.

The efforts of all the Arklow players started to show. Try after try was scored with some well executed moves by all of the Arklow team.

In this second half Arklow never gave Garda the chance to catch breath. Attacking the visitors from all across the pitch and within five minutes had scored another try which was converted Arklow 12 points Garda 3 points.

Arklow continued with the pressure. Some beautiful breaks from the Arklow 22 saw Arklow score a further four tries, both by backs and the Arklow pack. Three of which were converted.

Arklow forwards and backs combined to score some well executed tries. At every opportunity Arklow stretched their opponents and saw their efforts rewarded with very good quality tries from both backs and forwards.

These tries were top quality for their support play and inter passing between Arklow backs and forwards. The variety and complexity and support play of backs and forwards was a pleasure to see. This play was of a high standard by all of Arklows players and replacements.

This Arklow team is starting to blend well and have confidence in their abilities. Arklow’s out half is starting to use the elements and had a great kicking game and varied the play very well. It would be unfair to single out any one player but as a unit Arklow are starting to blend into a team.

Six tries in total and four conversions five tries scored in the second half a bonus point win. A good end to the first half of this season. Rugby is a team game and Arklow showed this throughout the second half.

This match is the start of the second half of this league.

Arklow are starting to shape up to be possible contenders for promotion but must keep this level of performance for the remaining fixtures in this league. There are very difficult away games for Arklow early in the New Year, and how these games fair out will have a significant bearing on where Arklow finish this season. It is now up to Arklow to continue with their current form and if they do they will be there in a challenging position at the end of the league. Arklow need to start the New Year exactly as the old one finished.

(1) John Louth, (2) Cathal Louth (C), (3) Eoin O Scannail, (4) Anthony O Donnell, (5) Jack Joyce, (6) Joe Bulmer, (7) John Furlong, (8) Dave Mulrooney, (9) Tom Scarff, (10)Richard Murphy, (11) James Lambert, (12) Michael O Scannail, (13) Ben Kavanagh, (14) Shane Mc Allister, (15) Paddy Phelan, (16) Shane Nalty, (17) Colly Doyle, (18) Patrick Ryan, (19) Gavin Cox.

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