This game had enough to make you believe it was a tester for battles to come.
Both teams were slightly under strength due to injury, business travel, and in the case of one Tarf legend, “ domestic commitments”!
Many congratulations to Matt and Aoibhinn Darcy on the safe arrival of Ollie. Rumour is that grandad Denis is going for family membership next year, with a discount for three generations.
The game opened on a pattern that was repeated for the full 80 minutes. Tarf attacked from the off …. piled through phases , won a penalty and entry into the Con 22, then struggled to match control with pace to force the critical score. Con defended like men possessed, worked downfield and scored in the left corner after a lively pop up took out two defenders.
That set the tone ….. slog slog slog from the home side and counterpunch from the visitors. At 5 nil down Tarf upped the power and after a first charge into the Con 22 was repelled, they came again, earned a penalty, went to the corner and mauled for 7 5.
Con Kelly added a penalty for 10 5 and the game moved into a frustrating period of overlapping errors with neither team able to land a telling blow. Con pressed hard on the left and looked to be in, but were pulled back for an attacking scrum which led to concerted home defence and blessed relief with a Con turnover. Tarf moved downfield and again got access through a penalty. That led to some left right, left right until the heavies took over and Tony Ryan bulled over for 17 5 with Con Kelly’s conversion.
2 minutes later they were back after some Con chatter resulted in a penalty to the corner and Ben Griffin thumped over for the third score which beautifully converted by Con Kelly from the side-line.
At this stage we are approaching the break and a 19 point lead would be ideal ….. wouldn’t it?
Unfortunately, Tarf knocked on the restart and conceded quite a harsh penalty for a high tackle and an extra 10 yards for being disappointed with the decision. Con rode their advantage, went to the corner, and after some huffing and puffing put in a lovely cross-kick for the left winger to dot down. So ….. 24 12 at half time.
Con opened the scoring in the second half when the home defence missed a tackle and the visiting full back put his winger in for 24 19. That had the visitors tails up and, with them showing much better ball retention, they were worth the lead when a lovely flowing move right to left saw the left wing in for the tying score converted by their classy out half Taylor for a 24 26 lead.
Clontarf rang the changes and with Alex Usanov and Ru Byron on the pitch the physicality of the home side was reinvigorated. With time ticking away sub Out Half Jack Murphy restored a 1 point lead with a clutch penalty from the 10 metre line. He stood up again right on full time to push the lead to 30 26 as the ref blew for the end of the game.
Don’t be surprised if these two sides meet again later in the season. Con will take heart from their performance against the Tarf physicality and have a back line to worry anyone. Some of their forwards were making AIL debuts so we can be sure their performance will improve. Tarf will take the victory, but will know that they need to get more on the scoreboard from the number of entries into the opposition 22. Next up is another top 4 clash against our old rivals Lansdowne on the back pitch in the Aviva.