22.03.2013 1st XV v Dolphin (H)

St Mary’s College RFC V Dolphin RFC

20 7

AIL Division 1 A

Templeville Road

Saturday 22^nd March 2014.

Overall

A multi coloured day this was. We were all in the Pink as it was Ladies’ Day It was a Red Letter Day, as the national Coach Joe Schmidt was the guest of honour. There were black clouds growling by; and of course, there was blue and white everywhere.

President Steven Hennessy was in his most eloquent form when he welcomed everyone to the club, paid fine tribute and made a presentation to Joe who received a sparkling welcome. Joe Schmidt’s dissertation was remarkably entertaining, amusing and pertinent. He received a standing ovation and then mingled happily with guests before watching the game and later visiting the two teams. He is a most affable, personable and talented person and most of all a totally nice man.

Of course, we did have a game. The result was important and it almost certainly, ensures a relatively comfortable finish to the campaign. With clouds hanging ominously overhead, the first half was also somewhat grey (more colours), with little direct movement; and lacking true pace. Dolphin looked strong and disciplined with good set pieces. They held possession well. They are a good team and probably deserved a losing bonus point. Marys play a less structured game, with pace and width. In the first half particularly, they found it difficult to gain possession

Fourteen minutes into the second half with the score at 3 – 0 from a Gavin Dunne penalty, the game woke up with a jolt, as Dolphin inside centre John Gleeson taking an elegant vector, scored a top class try. That did the trick for Marys, as immediately the pace rose, which proved frugiferous for the home team; a penalty and two tries followed. Cathal Marsh made a silken break and linked with Darren Hudson, who looked the most potent back on the field all match. He zipped through to score a terrific try, converted by wonderfully reliable Gavin. Dynamic Dylan Fawsitt scored the second try when, as is his wont, he was charging up and scooped up a careless pass from a Dolphin player. He showed pace and determination to make the line, Gavin again converted.

Dylan was the outstanding player on the pitch. Besides his hooking tasks, which he carried out with élan, he showed anticipation, agility (taking very difficult loose balls at the end of the lineout) and energy, as he maraudered unendingly. He was man of the match. He was followed very closely in all respects, by skipper, Kevin Sheahan who had a notable game in both attack and defence.

We will now go down next weekend to Young Munster with renewed confidence. We are ahead of next week’s opponents on points difference, but will be aware of how very difficult it is to beat YM at the Killing Fields.

Scoring Sequence 40 min penalty Dunne, 54 min try Gleeson, converted Scannail. 57 min penalty Dunne, 64 min try D Hudson, 68 min try Fawcett.

Final Score 20– 7.

D O’Brien.

The Team (Rolling substitutions)

15 G Dunne 14 D Hudson, 13 S Toal-Lennon, 12 Rob Hudson, 11 C Hogan, 10 C Marsh, M D’Arcy, 8 K Sheahan (Capt), 7 B O’Flanagan, 6 M Fallon., 5 C Ruddock, D Frawley, 3 B Mc Govern, 2 D Fawsitt, 1 C Mc Mahon, A Lyons, S Flanagan, P Starrett, S Bradshaw, R Glynn.