Arklow lose their way after super opening
EDENDERRY RFC ARKLOW RFC 20 10
was not converted.
But the home sides now had the taste for winning and were eager to continue with their game plan. With their backs and pack every ball was contested fiercely and Arklow must have been dazed by the rucking and mauling of their opponents but reached half time ahead ten points to eight.
Arklow need a good opening to the second half to try and get a foothold in the game. Things went from bad to worse for Arklow with poor passing and generally being second best at ruck and maul and open play.
Edenderry again applied pressure on Arklow whose efforts always ended up with a penalty to the home side. The home side had learned the predictability of the Arklow play and waited for the right moment to tackle and then contest aggressively for the ball.
Arklow didn’t have enough variation or surprises in their game plan. Then the Co. Wicklow side’s discipline imploded giving the home side four kickable shots on goal all of these penalties were all within Arklow’s 22-meter area so were not too difficult.
Due to an unfortunate accident the game had to be moved to another pitch during the second half. Arklow received two yellow cards and one red plus a yellow from the first half. By now the referee had decided that Arklow were continuously fouling and gave most decisions against Arklow.
Arklow never managed to score after the first 20 minutes. This is indicative of their style of play; it is too predictable. Eventually this game fizzled out with Edenderry the league leaders winning 20 points to ten. Arklow were playing for 40y minutes of the 80 with 13 or 14 players. This is not the kind of discipline that wins games like these.
Arklow started this game with all guns blazing but for some unknown reason suffered a melt down after the first quarter and there after their effort was never enough to win this game.
They won the first quarter but lost the next three quarters. Another tough game is on the horizon next week with an away match to Athy. This game will be even tougher but similar to today. Arklow must roll up their collective sleeves and play as they did today for the first 20 minutes but for the whole game. It won’t be easy, but it is possible to travel and win.
Arklow RFC: 1. Ben Byrne Diaper, 2. Cathal Louth (C), 3. Anthony O’Donnell, 4. Jack Joyce,
5. Joe Bulmer, 6. John Furlong,
8. Richard Murphy, 7. Tom Scarff,
10. Micheal O Scannail, 11. Paddy Phelan, 12. Joni Butterworth, 13. Paddy Ryan, 14. Tommy New, 15. Shane Nalty, 16. Eoin O Scannail,
17. John Louth, 18. Dean McCormac, 19. James Lambert, 20. Shane McAllister.