'TARF OVERHAUL DUNGANNON IN CUP
Author: Peter Walsh
2005-12-19
Clontarf 30 Dungannon 20



Firstly, on behalf of the Clontarf members may I send our condolences to Phil Werahiko on the recent death of his father.



Saturdays game in a very cold Castle Avenue will go down in the Club records as the most astonishing comeback seen in the old ground.
Playing into the Castle Ave end, Dungannon had a dream start which saw them tot up 20 points without reply with a scintillating brand of running rugby allied to masterful kicking from their young out half Steenson. Clontarf hardly had a sniff of the ball for about 25 minutes and in that time Dungannon had scored two tries through Patterson and Black, both converted by Steenson, plus two penalties by the prolific out half.

The turn around came at the 35 minute mark when over elaboration saw 'Gannon caught for a forward pass under the 'Tarf posts. That wasted a certain try and a potentially unassailable 27 point lead. Two minutes later 'Tarf muscled upfield and full back O'Daly placed a superb penalty to the 5 yard line. Three phases later 'Chops' Sweeney found himself one on one a yard from the line and scored beside the posts for a certain 7 points.

Half time came at 20 to 7 to 'Gannon but there was a certain feeling that the 'Tarf pack were awake and getting a little grumpy about events. Certainly Dungannon could be accused of getting a little presumptuous in the close exchanges as the first half ended. They may have felt that their ascendancy in skills at that point gave them some leeway on the physical stakes. The result was akin to poking a sleeping bear with a sharp stick... not clever!

The second half was a chastening experience for the visitors. Having woken the beast they then had to deal with it and , Oh Dear , this was not a happy task because 'Tarf had discovered a fragility in the 'Gannon pack and set about ruthlessly exposing it.

Phase after phase they pounded around the side and 'Gannon were forced to defend close in where it got very hot indeed. This exposed gaps outside and 5 minutes into the second Half wing Peter Woods went in untouched for his first try for the 'Tarf senior side. 10 minutes later on the other wing the act was repeated but this time without an overlap. Winger Keane was delivered the ball with two defenders in front of him and happily used all the skills God gave him and blew the defenders away as he crossed the line. From this point on there was only going to be one winner.Late arrival (from exams) fullback Pete O'Brien kicked two long penalties to take a 3 point lead for the home side and with time running out out half Mark Woods found a large gap and squeezed through to score a superb try to finish off the day.

Cheers to the players for a great day and crucial positive momentum going into Christmas. The pack were again superb with the front row tormenting their opposition physically and verbally for the afternoon, behind them Andy Wood and his protege Alan 'Des' Trenier were like rock and the backrow gave their usual performance with 8 Purdue and both flankers relishing the physical battle.

Final congrats must be directed to Mark Woods who had a faultless afternoon at 10. Woodsy gave one of those performances that are at the heart of what Club rugby is all about. In doing so he has thrust his not insubstantial figure into AIL contention.


A quality problem for the coach!



Finally I would again like to voice my alarm at the continued carping about my articles coming from the junior and inferior ranks of the Club. I am now finding myself defending my talents against three members of the O'Sugercane family!....... Its like arguing with the Beverly Hillbillies!.....Apart from that, surely someone has spotted the conflict of interest arising from D O'Sugercane writing up his own performances for the J1's!....... A disciplinary issue surely??.

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