“Lay on, Macduff; and damn’d be him that first cries ‘hold, enough!’”
Macbeth Act 5, Scene 8
And with that timeless challenge Macbeth throws down his shield and declares his final battle to be to the death.
He got his wish ….. 5 seconds later Macduff skewers him !
What a rugby match! What a battle! What a first half!
These two sides have history and it was clear from the start that no quarter was to be asked or given. The pace and accuracy from both teams in attack and defence was breathtaking. Multiphase attack meeting walloping defence was the order of the day with errors in defensive line clearances ruthlessly punished. An illustration of the intensity was, that despite both teams putting width on the ball, there was only one scrum in the first half.
Tarf opened the scoring after Nure got pinned in their 22 on the kick-off. A skewed box kick resulted in a home penalty and the usual line out, maul, dance routine resulted in a try to Dylan Donnellan, converted by Con Kelly.
Nure responded with a peach from out half Cosgrave after Tarf seemed to have lifted the pressure, only to give the ball straight back. His dink and follow through was top drawer. Tarf added another through Dave Ryan, after heavy carries opened space on the left. Nure accepted another invitation into our 22 after a high tackle and got in after what looked suspiciously like held up over the line. Tarf came again and, again, got in on the left after monstrous work from the forwards on the Nure line. Con Kelly added a penalty for 22 12 at half time.
It was one of the best halves of rugby I’ve seen in years. Both sides playing at the limit in attack and defence. Some of the hits were totemic. The Terenure hooker , Russell, was beyond committed in defence and belted himself groggy , mainly off Con Kelly who gave a masterclass in composure despite shipping a few falling pianos!
In the second half the game shifted off its perfection axis and became a little looser.
Within 10, Tarf fashioned the telling score. Slow ball was taken forward by Alan Spicer which allowed Alex O’Grady to be released on the left. Aaron Coleman took it up at full pace followed by Ben Griffin and when Aaron cam again the referee got tangled in the action and ended up in the middle of the ruck for a home scrum. Tarf changed props and just for a celebration Usanov and Smyth monstered the Nure scrum for a penalty, which was out to the corner and ……. Well ….. why bother typing. Dylan got his second, Con converted and the score moved to 29 12.
True to their character, Nure refused to wilt and, with Caspar Gabriel pulling the strings, they began to secure field position. It didn’t help Tarf that, as we moved into the final quarter we were down 3 centres. Fahy left with a hamstring strain on the first play of the game, Hawkshaw left after a rolled ankle on the first play of the second half and Dave Ryan went off at the end of the third quarter having scored on his debut.
So consternation in the coaches eyrie in the pavilion. The sound of knitting and sandwiches being dropped echoed across the ground as the brains trust scrabbled for the manual on rugby without centres! In the end Aaron Coleman burnished his already glowing reputation by slipping into the back line. He was already man of the match so I’m putting this down to showing off !
Nure got one back after a superb kick from Gabriel could not be cleared and resulted in an attacking scrum and ultimately successful pick and drive. With 6 to go Nure stole a home lineout and scored a beauty from Pa Ryan on the left. That brought the score to 29 24 and nobody was running for the bar.
The game ended on a familiar pattern; Tarf surging for the Nure 22, Aaron Coleman carrying brilliantly and Con Kelly getting emptied in the tackle…. again!
A final penalty came back off a post but time ran out for the visitors and a knock on brought the last whistle.
It was a great game. Played in a familial spirit with constant bickering and sledging. These two sides will meet again and no one will be betting against them meeting again twice.
