Lansdowne FC 38 - 21 Old Wesley RFC
At times it wasn’t pretty, at times it was just plain boring, but maybe it’s a sign of our increasing expectations that we come away from a game where we score 5 tries and field an impressive array of new players and new positions with a sense of anticlimax. Or maybe I’m just watching too much “House”.
Like the previous game against Old Belvedere, Thursday’s clash with the other Donnybrook old boys, Wesley started with an extended scoreless period. But this felt different. This time, the visitors had most possession and territory for nearly half an hour, but our defence never looked stressed. And then there were the set pieces. Not only did our newly configured front row - promising new tighthead Julien Valleise, joining prodigal son, Tom Barry and Greg “still here” McGrath – utterly dominate the scrums, but Wesley had the knack of butchering their own lineouts to add to our comfort that things would be OK. Any doubt about that was dispelled when a rare foray into their half led directly to our first try. From a penalty on the halfway, fresh-faced outhalf James Tarrant sticks it in the corner. We win the lineout, there’s a maul, a series of phases and centre Stephen Madigan crashes over for a try under the posts. Hang on. Let’s rewind that … “centre Stephen Madigan” … what strange magic is this? We’ll come back to that. 7 – 0.
Wesley’s period of parity with our lads was well and truly over and we asserted our dominance for the remainder of the half, leading to two more tries. The first started from another set piece inside their 22, leading to another series of rucks and mauls and it was that remoulded centre Madigan that crashed over for his second try. Or so his father Paddy insisted from the balcony. (Note to self #1, if you’re hoping to write a match report, watch from the pitch and #2 Never take a parent’s word for anything!). In fact, it was captain for the day and openside wing forward, Barry Fitzpatrick that went over, James Tarrant again adding the extras. 14 – 0 as we approached half time. But before the whistle blew our third try came from a different route, this time winger Cian Eddy, who was starring in his debut for the firsts. The ball came from a turnover inside their 22 and, taking advantage of Wesley’s narrow defensive set up, Tarrant sends an excellent pass out wide. There’s space out there and brothers, Cathal and Cian exchange passes until Cian goes over in the corner. 19 – 0 at half time.
The second half wasn’t long on before we were rattling the score board again. This time, (mercifully closer to the balcony so we could actually see) a series of attacks brought us within their 22. Varying the direction of the play, scrum half Jack Matthews passed it left, then he passed it right and then he didn’t pass it at all, bursting down the middle and offloading perfectly to second row Ruari Clarke who bounded over the last 15 meters like a St Bernard running through deep snow and touching down for our bonus point try. Tarrant knocks over another excellent conversion and we look out of sight at 26 – 0.
But proud Old Wesley had plans for the evening and being whitewashed wasn’t among them. They upped their tempo and also all but eliminated their mistakes, fighting their way back into our half and putting our defence under proper pressure for the first time all night. The pressure yielded a yellow card for us, followed soon by a try for the visitors. 26 – 7.
Their renaissance seemed short lived, however, as we surged back to their half and again spread the ball wide for Cian Eddy to get his second try of the night. But from the restart, Wez were back in our danger zone threatening again, only for a turnaround from sub, Louis McGauran, to allow us to claw our way back into their half. It was end to end stuff now, but our edge was still clear as a series of short, sharp attacks down the centre of the pitch allowed another sub, Luke Fagan take a crash ball and power over for our sixth try. 38 – 7 as we entered the last ten minutes of ordinary time.
Perhaps for pride more than any real expectation, Wesley lifted their game yet again in a sort of re-renaissance (it’s probably a thing) and fought their way valiantly back into our half. They were rewarded for their bravery with another and then yet another last minute try and we were rewarded with yet another entertaining victory in this excellent competition.
