Clontarf 20 – Old Belvedere 14

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Clontarf’s first home fixture of the new UBL campaign on Friday night was notable for nothing except the victory that puts ‘Tarf on top of the table after two games.

Rob McGrath can be congratulated for adding some light to an otherwise dull affair in which the interpretation of the referee was responsible for most of the tension during the game rather than the somewhat chequered enterprise of the two sides. Belvo will be disappointed that it was their surging run which led to confusion among their backs and an intercepted pass to Rob McGrath for the first ‘Tarf try. Shane McDonald kept them in it with three penalties from his cultured boot and Joey Carbury landed one for the home side for 10 – 9 at the break.

Just prior to half time Belvo were reduced to 14 men after their energised flanker Karl Miller was sent to the line after a scuffle around a maul. The incident was so innocuous that no one realised he had been sent off for an age.

In the second half Rob McGrath grabbed a second try after a run that included everything in an attacker’s armoury with a touch of vaudeville as well. Having broken clear into the heart of the Belvo defence and faced with considerable Belvo cover converging on him, he proceeded to mesmerise the defence with sidesteps, dummies, show and go, go and show, stopping, starting, and a little bit of Riverdance, until the amazed defenders, somewhat apologetically, got out of his way and allowed him to score by the posts.

That put Tarf 17 – 9 clear and another penalty from Carbury brought it to 20 – 9 and all that was left was for Belvo to interpret the ref better than ‘Tarf in the final minutes for a consolation try and a bonus point.