CUP DEFENSE BEGINS IN MIDDLE-EARTH
16/02/2006

The defense of the Collie Smyth trophy began last Sunday in surroundings not dissimilar to that of Hobbiton and the fabled Shire, but as the travelling Warriors from Tarf soon found out, the closest thing to a Hobbit in Tullamore was an impish scrumhalf with suspiciously hairy feet.

Despite arriving late and groggy from the arduous journey down to Tullamore, the visitors started brightly forcing an early penalty which was uncharacteristicly missed by Mark "Bilbo" Woods.  Tarf then put together some nice continuity play and forced a miss match out wide only for the chance to be wasted by indecision.  All was not lost however as a five yard scrum was secured and after Anton "Gimli" McDonnell turned his opposition prop into putty, Andrew "Gandalf" Cullen exploded off the base of the scrum employing all the wizardry in his arsenal.  Facing the options of running over or around the beleagued outhalf, Cully decided on the former and Dallaglio'd him unmercifully before crashing over for the score.

And this is where the fairytale ended... Tullamore swarmed around the rucks not overly concerned with being penalised for infringing, as the referee seemed happy to employ ignorance and fantasy when ajudicating at the breakdown.  If not for the miraculous recovery of Master Woods' right boot the visitors would have been in serious trouble.  To their credit the home side capitalised on the occasional Monty Python-esque defending employed by the Tarf back division and notched up a couple of tries to take the lead.

Kev O'Dowd was then mysteriously banished to the sidelines for something or other and it took his absence to impress on the visitors the need to truck it up and beat Tullamore at their own game.  This new tack was spearheaded by Anton and Cully who continually charged forward eeking out the hard yards.  This new momentum was rewarded with a penalty try as the Tarf scrum marched the Tullamore 8 backwards forcing them to break their binds and collapse the scum.  Shortly afterwards, Paul "Frodo" Wakely secured the game following a catch and drive from the lineout.  But like all great saga's the drama does not end here... as the return leg in this aggregate competition takes place in Castle Ave on Sunday week.

FINAL SCORE:        TULLAMORE    19        TARF    27

PS: In reply to PW, unfortunately I picked up a nasty dose of Bronchitis playing last sunday in Tullamore but I am reliably informed that PW has picked up significantly worse doses at the nearby Chicken Ranch in the past. Tut tut tut!!!

 

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