MATCH REPORT: Salesians College Celbridge 30 - St Mac Dara's 0

You learn more about a team from a defeat than you do from a victory.  You learn about things like leadership and friendship, things like commitment, like dignity and honour.  If you watch a team that has been held scoreless applaud their opponents off the pitch, thank the referee and then rededicate themselves to each other then you can be very proud of that team.  That is a team, in the purest, simplest and most honest form.  That is a group of men, not boys.

Today our Boys Senior Rugby team played their first match in the Development Cup against Salesians College Celbridge in NUIM Barnhall.  We kicked off at just five past one and then had a period of six-and-a-half minutes sustained pressure in the Salesians half.  We applied huge pressure on them and kept recycling the ball through the forwards but Salesians were eventually able to kick the ball into space behind us to take some pressure off themselves.  This pressure was swiftly applied to us and some quick passing from the right unleashed their left winger who crossed for the first of his trys. 

In previous games our set-pieces have provided us with solid platforms to build from.  Today our scrums were an excellent attacking option and apart from one that we lost simply because of a wild ball our scrums were dominant.  Well done to new player David Holmes (Hooker) who packed down and put on a great display.  Mitchell Manning (Flanker) was also new to the game and performed really well, despite being dropped in the deep end.  Our lineouts were not as relaible and Salesians managed to steal our ball a number of times, robbing us of opportunities to convert our pressure into points.

After another six minutes the Salesians winger had struck again.  We were stuck with the ball in our forwards with the option to "pick and go" being chosen rather than choosing to push the ball out to the wings.  Ultimately this is what cost us.  Jonathan Kelly and Jake Carroll put in sterling service as the half-backs today and deserve great credit for their initative.  Owen Walsh and Adam Carruth were the eager and hungry wingers, playing in their first ever rugby matches for St Mac Dara's, while Darren Kelly and Alex Walsh were also novices not just in their centre partnership, but also in playing rugby for their school.  The most dynamic player on the field today, and the one who gave us the most territory in attack but also provided a strong defensive display was Liam Delaney (Fullback).  Liam, like all of our backs, was playing his first game for his school, but used his skills and ability from soccer and football to great effect, running good probing lines and fielding the ball to great effect.

Our forwards were the veterans and it was they who kept everybody's heads up during play.  Andrew Hayden (Number 8 and Senior Captain) deserves great credit for his leadership, as was also shown by Ross Coyle (Flanker) and all of the forwards.

Here's the team on the bus back to school, after a stirring rendition of "Call me Baby".  Nothing wrong with their team-spirit.  Well done lads.

The Numbers.

Tries. St Mac Dara's 0, Salesians Celbridge 6
Possession. St Mac Dara's 35 minutes. 50%. Salesians 35m. 50%.
Territory. St Mac Dara's 60%. Salesians 40%.

Line-Outs. St Mac Dara's 6 (1). Salesians 3 (3).
Scrums. St Mac Dara's 7 (6). Salesians 5 (3).
Penalties conceded. St Mac Dara's 4.  Salesians 5.