Skerries RFC 27-3 Midleton RFC
Skerries played their fourth Energia AIL league match of the season against a very strong Midleton team, who before kick-off, were positioned second in the table.
Conditions starting out were very damp and dreary in Holmpatrick but this didn’t deter the home team setting out with an attacking intent from the get go.
Paul O’Loghlen kicked an early penalty from a ruck infringement and doubled the lead after 15 minutes with another successful penalty kick. Midleton, following a rolling maul, put huge pressure on the home side and their reward was three points from a penalty kicked by their out half Stuart Lee.
Skerries landed two further penalties before half time to
lead 12-3 at the break.
Midleton were reduced to 14 men for offside and again O’Loghlen slotted over another
three points to make it 18-3.
Skerries introduced the visiting Hugo Lennox for the second half from Irish Rugby’s Sevens team. Hugo was home for the weekend and togged out with his former teammates in the Skerries colours. This this gave the team a huge boast and after 20 minutes Skerries scored an excellent try by Captain Kevin McGrath after good work by the pack. Skerries were now well in control at 20-3 with 20 minutes to go. Complacency never crept in as the home team went on to produce the best period of the game with excellent handling by the backs and forwards and finished off again by another try for Kevin McGrath. Paul O’Loghlen’s boot did what it was told leaving the score 27-3.
Into the last fifteen minutes of play, Skerries pressed for the additional tries to get a bonus point but Midleton defended very well.
This was an overall excellent performance by Skerries, the defence was particularly good and improving week by week and the discipline was superb.
A brilliant team performance by the boys. All credit to Paul O’Loghlen, who was in tremendous kicking form, two great tries from Captain McGrath and the wingers of Lorcan Jones and Conor Lennox were always a threat. The form from the each and every one of the backs stood out, the knocks were hard but their intensity was tougher, Dara Lowndes tackled impressively all resulting in keeping the visitors to three points.
All roads lead to Bruff next week with a tough game in store
but huge momentum can be built on Saturday’s performance.
15 R Gordon
14.L Jones
13.K McGrath ©
12.D lowndes
11.C .Lennox
10.P O’Loghlen
9.E Carron
8.R McAuley
7.B Jenkinson
6.M Turvey
5.T Mulvany
4.P Fay Watt
3.J Sherwin
2.K Leonard
1.Cormac Marry
16.Con Marry
17 C Murphy
18.T O’Hare
19.H Lennox
20. M Oliver