More Maximum Points in a Murky Match!

The conditions may have been more conducive to stale ale than champagne rugby, but the fact that Lansdowne ground out another bonus point win in this sodden setting is yet another sign of this group’s growth and rightful claim to the play-offs. And then, who knows …?

In spite of the good cheer of the over 100 graduates of the pre match lunch and the J4s celebrating their earlier victory over Terenure, it really was a grim afternoon at HQ. The mist and rain clung to the ball, the ground and the very air. It was clear that the team that made less mistakes would prevail. And that was Lansdowne.  

The first quarter was a dour affair which took place almost entirely between the two 22-meter lines, with both defences having the edge over attacks. We squandered one or two attacking opportunities early on, but our defence was absolutely rock solid - disciplined and destructive. At 15 minutes, in probably their best sustained period of the game, Munsters launched a volley of phases, up to 20 perhaps, but we continually regrouped and held our discipline, eventually forcing a knock on. It wasn’t pretty, but it was darkly encouraging. In fact, if it hadn’t been for the near collapse of both temporary viewing stands, there would have been no excitement in the first quarter at all!

The tide turned (almost literally!) when the first scrum of the day was set and anyone close by could see the steely look in prop Greg McGrath’s eye. His opposite number was probably in for a battle. He was and he lost. A penalty for Lansdowne followed from a scrum that would remain dominant all day. Stephen Madigan nudges it well into their half and hooker Jack Treanor and the other prop Jerry Cahir work well together with a short and quick throw leading to a break down the touchline inside their 22.  Munsters win the lineout that follows, but pressure from our back row, Liam Maloney means they can’t clear their lines, ending up with a scrum in the middle of the pitch on their 10 meter line. Proving our first scrum was no fluke, we powered over theirs winning another penalty and called for another scrum.  This time we drove forward but number 8 Harry Van Eeden held the ball at his feet for scrum half Jack Matthews to pass to Madigan who popped it up for scoring machine, Andy Marks and he made short work of the flailing opposition to open our scoring. Stephen topped it up and we were 7-0 as we entered the second quarter.

As usual, the period immediately after getting a try can be the most dangerous and we did look a bit loose, but they were looser, and we withstood the best they had to offer. After a sustained attack, they fumbled their own lineout near our 22 and we countered bringing the play back to where it belonged, in their half. Our familiar composure returned with Stephan Madigan managing the game excellently, keeping the line moving at a tempo that minimized the risk of errors. Eventually, we were attacking their line again from within the 10m line and they started to spread their defence too wide, allowing Jack Matthews gaps, one of which he gratefully took to put us in under the posts again. Mads adds the cherry and it’s 14 - 0.

Remember the earlier comment about the moments after a score?  This time it proved true. We attack again from the restart but concede an unnecessary penalty for handing in a ruck, allowing them back into our '22. Their lineout maul is excellent and, though they looked like they had momentum to carry the maul over, they move the ball and their centre slides past one of our defenders that had slipped and suddenly it’s 14 - 7 with half time approaching. As if the luster of the first half hadn’t suffered enough, we also lost a player to the sin bin on half time following an over-exuberant tackle. Yikes.

The Munsters' purple patch wasn’t over just yet and they took advantage of the yellow immediately on the restart. 14 - 14. But [spoiler alert!] that was as bad as it got. Their second try was enough to shake us out of any complacency and for the remaining half of the game we were a picture of controlled dominance. First we had a lineout on their 22 and this time it went well (it has to be said, there had been a few misfires in the wet conditions earlier) and as we gained momentum in the maul, Harry Van E peeled off and no one was going to stop him as he powered over in the corner. 19 - 14.

With the building wind behind us now, we kept them pinned down in their half, thanks again to Mads. We win a penalty inside their half and Stephen dampens the visitors’ hopes of a comeback further as he calmly slots it over. 22 - 14.

The Cookies look defeated now and even their traveling fans are predicting more scores for us as we go on the hunt for the try bonus point with the finishing line ten minutes away. The coup de grace came as, getting desperate now, they tried to play out of their own '22 and we turn them over in a ruck. The ball comes out to the left, but Mads switches right to centre Rory Parata and he passes a short ball to hero of last week’s win in Ballynahinch, Juan Beukes who powers over in the corner. Ahhhh! That bonus point feeling!

And as if he hadn’t done enough all day, MOTM Stephen Madigan slots the conversion over from the touchline.  29 - 14. Full time.

All eyes now on the trip south of the border to league leaders Cork Con. See ye all there!

Match Report - Brian Whelan