Clonmel 22 Scariff 15

After four postponed scheduled matches, this eagerly encountered Gleeson league game was finally played last Sunday in Clonmel. Both of these teams were in contention of reaching the next stage, and only a win would be enough to vie for a second place. Scariff kicked off the first half into a light breeze and Clonmel immediately went back down the field with their forwards running at every opportunity. After some good drives, and phases of play, the ball was sent out the back line on Scariff’s 22 but it was intercepted and the Scariff centre ran the length of the field to score under the posts. The try was converted to put Scariff 7 nil up with only ten minutes gone.

Clonmel bounced back from this set back and John Kelly and Gus Slattery were winning lineouts which paved the way for a strong forwards battle. Clonmel’s break finally came when a line out was won in Scariff’s half and some good crash balls from Mike Sheehan and Tommy Mee up the middle allowed scrum half Greg Carroll to feed the backs and off load to Slattery to go over in the corner. The resulting conversion was missed. Scariff rallied back at Clonmel at every opportunity and kicked a lot of ball in to their half which they chased up every time. Just ten minutes later, Clonmel had a lineout which they needed to win in order to clear their lines. The pass was given but Scariff chased up and blocked down Brian Lonergan’s clearance kick and touched down in the corner for their second try of the afternoon. The conversion was missed, but this was the wake up call Clonmel needed.

Clonmel kicked off again and after winning possession from their forwards started putting the phases together with Lonergan off-loading to Curran on the crash balls and getting it wide quickly. From one break up the middle, Greg sent it wide to Lonergan who found Slattery in the back line again and finally offloaded to John McCarthy to go over in the corner. The conversion was missed and left the half time score 10 – 12 to Scariff.

The second half resumed with Clonmel making some half time substitutions bringing on Gerry Purcell, Morgan Ryan and Alan Marshall. After only a few minutes played, Clonmel was alleged to be off-side and Scariff were awarded a penalty in which they kicked to go five ahead. Lonergan kicked off again and Normile, Cleary and co. were attacking the Scariff defence every time they got the ball. From one set play, the forwards drove the Scariff pack from their 22 and Mike Sheehan was on hand to go over for Clonmel’s third try of the day. This was converted and Clonmel took the lead for the first time in this match. Clonmel forwards gathered the kick off, and Purcell kicked up the line for Ryan to chase when ever the Scariff backs were caught napping. Clonmel at this stage were dominating both the lineouts and scrums and Scariff had no answer for this well drilled pack. Clonmel were awarded a scum on their opponents 22 and from this, Lonergan passed out to Curran who brushed off three defenders to go over for the last score of the day and seal the win. Try as they might, there was no way back for this Scariff side as the Clonmel defence held out strong for the last ten minutes. This result now puts Clonmel in an exciting position in the table.