Tullamore Impress In Last Leinster League Game Of 2011
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Monkstown 3. Tullamore 34.
Tullamore knew going in to this match that a win would leave them in contention for league honours when the competition resumes in January 2012. The side had made a mighty comeback having lost three out of four in Sept/Oct. There is a tough edge to this side now and it showed in this match when they took Monstown apart.
Tullamore were on the front foot from the kick off and it took only four minutes to take the lead with a penalty for offside from Aaron Deverell. Tullamore were dominant but over anxious in the first quarter and conceded five penalties when in the opposition half. Slowly but surely they got into their stride and after twenty two minutes scored their best try of the season.
The forwards took it through the phases and pulled the home side's back row over and back across the pitch, the ball was then swung across the backline to winger Keith Scally who when he was tackled offloaded to the supporting David Clavin who scored a try. Captain Aaron Deverell converted from a wide angle. Five minutes later Monstown registered their only score of the game when a long range penalty barely crept over the bar.
At this stage the Tullamore pack were on top and the backline enjoying the space created. Five minutes before the break Tullamore won a penalty and kicked into the corner for a five metre lineout. The lineout was won and a rolling maul resulted in Adrian Hanley passing to David Milne who squeezed in at the corner flag. Aaron kicked a terrific conversion to leave the visitors leading 17-03 at half time.
In the first half the Tullamore scrum was beginning to get the upper hand and early in the second half, led by the front row of Bennett, Glennon and Bracken they pushed Monkstown clean off their put in. They followed that up with pushover try with Adrian Hanley getting the touchdown. The bonus point try followed after fifteen minutes with another push over and again Hanley was the try scorer. Aaron converted. Tullamore eased up slightly but had enough left to score a fifth try through the backs with Brian Geraghty the scorer.
This win puts Tullamore in joint second place in the league with Enniscorthy and only two points behind leaders Skerries. Newbridge are one point behind Tullamore leaving four clubs within three points.
There are several reasons for the improved performances with this being the eigth win in a row in all competitions but the most important are the leadership of Aaron Deverell at No.10 and the hard work of coaches John Moylan and Johnny Burns.
Tullamore: 15. Brian Geraghty, 14.Keith Scally,13.David Clavin, 12.Tom Gilligan, 11.Rory Deverell, 10 Aaron Deverell (Capt), 9.Richie Hughes, 1.Tomas Bennett, 2. Cian Glennon, 3.Alvin Bracken, 4.Ivor Deverell,5.David Milne, 6.Jason Clancy, 7.Rob Connor, 8. Adrian Hanley.
Replacements: Kevin Browne, Darragh Lowry, David Hanlon, , Chris Coombs and Colin Hughes.
Subscribe to read full newspaper »
Send to a friend
Please complete the following form to inform a friend about this page.
