Match Report: Connemara v Queens University 17-1-09
Connemara 15 Queens University 26
In conditions that were almost impossible for rugby and in front of one of the smallest crowds seen in the Monastery field for a long time we were always going to have a tough assignment in their encounter with Queens. Queens were looking for a win to take them to the top of the division 3 table.
The match was in doubt up to 1pm as the pitch was waterlogged and the rain was still coming down heavy but a clearance from the west gave hope. Tommy Coyne and John Francis Flaherty and a few helpers put in a huge effort to make the pitch playable.
The ref said he would start any way and see what happened.
Connemara chose to play with the strong wind in their backs and got off to a good start slotting over a long distance penalty from the boot of Sean Joyce.
Even at this stage the signs were ominous, Queens were defending well and were willing to be patient. We were giving away a lot of penalties in the rucks which inevitably led to a yellow card. With a man down we lifted our game and after a couple of good runs by Benny Bester we finally got in for a try which Sean Joyce converted. 10-0 half time.
The second half started with the visitors putting pressure on us and within a few minutes it was 10-6 with their scrum half Ian Porter kicking well. Queens kept up the pressure and despite some great defence by our lads midway through the half the students got in for their first try which they converted to make it 10-13. Another fine penalty kick made it 10-16 before we lifted our game again and got up to their line. We got a penalty but Sean Joyce was just wide with the difficult kick. Queens got back into our 22 and got in for a second converted try 10-23. We threw everything at them in the last few minutes and it paid off as Benny Bester went in for a try. The conversion was important as it would have brought us within one score and into bonus point territory but again the gale kept the kick out.15 23. Another fine penalty by Porter with the last kick of the game completed the scoring. 15-23
In fairness the lads they never gave up but with a lot of the original panel that started out the season injured or unavailable it was always asking a lot. This makes next weeks game against bottom of the table Waterpark a must win game.
