An encouraging start to the season against a skilful Old Wesley side saw Lansdowne come out worthy victors in our opening game of the season. A nice blend of experience and youth with a decent sprinkling of debutants throughout the starting team and squad took to Energia Park in the first round of the Leinster Senior Cup. In total we had players making their debuts in the starting XV, prop Jerry Cahir, hooker Jack Treanor, and winger Harry O’Riordan. They were joined by Tom Connolly (Prop), Juan Beukes (2nd row) and Tim Cotter (hooker) on the bench and all six debutants acquitted themselves well which hopefully bodes well for the future. There are some new faces off the pitch as well with Rhys Ruddock, Craig Ronaldson & Adam Boland joining up with Head Coach Declan Fassbender to make a formidable coaching team.  

 

The game started with a bang , Lansdowne kicked off into Wesley and swiftly recovered possession from a loose kick and applied pressure with a number of carries around the Old Wesley 22. A loose pass saw the ball hacked on by Old Wesley into the Lansdowne half, Lansdowne countered and ended up kicking into the Wesley 22 but couldn’t make touch. Old Wesley seized on the opportunity and countered from deep inside their 22 down the right hand touchline into the Lansdowne 22. A tackle from Cathal Eddy gave rise to a ruck from which Old Wesley moved the ball right to left to score a fine try near the left corner. The conversion was good and after two minutes of play without a break and Old Wesley had a 7-0 lead. 

 

Buoyed by their early try Old Wesley went on the attack again for the next few minutes and had most of the territory without really ever threatening the Lansdowne try line. A penalty to Lansdowne helped us lift the siege and from the lineout we looked to develop some sort of rhythm. Eventually out-half Stephen Madigan found a gap in the Old Wesley defence on the halfway line and supporting the ball on his inside Sean Galvin raced in for a try from 25 metres out. Madigan made good on the conversion and the sides were all square at 7-7 with just over 15 minutes gone.

 

From the kick off Lansdowne made their way into the Old Wesley half and eventually were awarded a very kickable penalty. Rather than take the kick they went for the corner but unfortunately and understandably (given the time of the year) the execution of the lineout was a bit off and Old Wesley regained possession and kicked for touch towards their 10m line to relieve the pressure. Lansdowne shortened the lineout, hit it up in the midfield and after a patient build up with numerous phases put Andy Marks into space on the left touchline. He bumped off the first tackler and dived over in the corner for Lansdowne’s 2nd try which went unconverted. It was Old Wesley’s turn to go on the offensive and Lansdowne had to defend well to hold them out from a couple of 5m lineouts. The half finished soon after 12-7 to Lansdowne. 

 

A strong drive from debutant 2nd row Juan Beukes gave way to a penalty to Lansdowne        on the Old Wesley 10m line. Replacement out half Steve McMahon kicked well inside the Old Wesley 22. Hooker Jack Treanor who had a fine game on his debut broke off from the lineout maul and Old Wesley were deemed to infringe at the ruck. Once again McMahon kicked for touch and from the 5m lineout Lansdowne mauled it over for Treanor to score to make it 17-7.

 

Lansdowne stole an Old Wesley lineout just outside our own 22 and moved the ball quickly wide to Andy Marks who made superb 50m break only to be brought down by a high tackle. Once again McMahon kicked the penalty into the corner and in almost an exact replica of the previous try the Lansdowne pack mauled over for our 4th try with replacement hooker Tim Cotter, graduating from our 20’s this season and marking his debut with a try. McMahon succeeded with a fine conversion, 24-7. The game resumed and Lansdowne were awarded a penalty off the kick off after another high tackle this time on Paul Wilson. We moved the ball off the subsequent lineout and Steve McMahon put Marks into space who rewarded sub scrum-half Oisin Devitt for a great support line with an inside pass and Devitt scampered over for a converted try with the last play of the game to leave the final scoreline 31-7 to Lansdowne and        

 

Next up we take on St Marys promoted to 1A last season and coached by our former coach Mark McHugh, in Templeville Road. St Mary’s won their first cup game away to Terenure so Declan Fassbender and his team will be under no illusions as to the quality of our opponents. The match was originally scheduled for HQ but the American Football game between Georgia Tech & Florida State takes precedent. Let’s get out and support the lads this Saturday. KO is 3pm. 

OLD WESLEY 7 LANSDOWNE 31, Energia Park
Lansdowne Scorers: Tries: Sean Galvin, Andy Marks, Jack Treanor, Tim Cotter, Oisin Devitt; Cons: Stephen Madigan 1 , Steve McMahon 2.
HT: Old Wesley 7 Lansdowne 12

Referee: Sam Holt

 

LANSDOWNE: Cathal Eddy; Harry O’Riordan, Andy Marks, Rory Parata, Sean Galvin; Stephen Madigan, Jack Matthews; Jerry Cahir, Jack Treanor, Greg McGrath, Conor McMenamin, Ruairi Clarke, Clive Ross, Barry Fitzpatrick, Jack Cooke (capt)
Replacements: Tim Cotter, Ben Popplewell, Tom Connolly, Luke O’Connor, Juan Beukes, Oisin Devitt, Steve McMahon. Paul Wilson

Old Wesley RFC v Lansdowne FC 15.08.24 - ALBUM