All matches in this league are a journey into the unknown as you can never be entirely sure of the quality of the opposition until the match is underway. This was very much the case when Seapoint lined out to face the first of the two Connacht clubs in the league at home in Kilbogget on Sunday November 13th. Spectators were not disappointed as both teams served up a physical and skillful exhibition of rugby where the score line did not reflect the intensity of the contest or the competitive nature of the fixture. Seapoint took the opportunity to produce a first 40 minutes with an exhibition of flawless execution and the difference was their ability to create scoring opportunities and convert them when they were on offer.
Seapoint started brightly and made inroads into the opposition 22 for the first 5 minutes. Corinthians defended well and some dropped passes early on by the Seapoint pack allowed Corinthians to relieve pressure. However, after 8 minutes a clean lineout take by Hugh Ross just inside the opposition 22 created a good attacking platform and when Forster took the ball at pace in the midfield no-one was going to stop him getting to the line. Brindley missed a difficult kick from the touchline.
Following the restart Seapoint had to defend. Corinthians mounted an attack of their own and it took some big defensive tackles to prevent a Corinthians score. Ultimately the defensive pressure caused a Corinthians knock on and Alex Lee relieved pressure from the ensuing scrum with a long clearance kick. Seapoint were now back in attacking territory and a series of line breaks and some sparkling handling created a try for Sean Cronin under the posts. Brindley converted to leave the score at 12 points to nil at the twenty-minute water break.
Corinthians began the second 20-minute period with renewed vigour, and it took some more defensive discipline to prevent them scoring. Corinthians were awarded a penalty in a kickable position but luckily for Seapoint the kick went wide. Corinthians applied more pressure from the 22 drop out but Brindley managed to steal a vital intercept, and this created a Jack Campbell break up the middle Hugh Ross ever in support took the opportunity to score try number 3 which Brindley converted. In the final moments of the half Cronin, Cassidy and Brindley combined with some incredible handling and running to create an opportunity for Brindley to score. Brindley converted to leave the half-time score at 26 points to nil.
To Corinthians credit they faced into a second half with heart and a never say die attitude. Seapoint had to defend for most of the second half and had two yellow cards as a result, with Cronin and Balmaine both being carded for 10 minutes at different times. Corinthians did manage to score a converted try 15 minutes in and were applying all the pressure. However shortly after the water break a blocked kick regained possession for Seapoint in midfield. Brindley found Lee with a long pass who then released Forster. A winger like kick and chase resulted in a try for Forster and effectively ended the game as a contest. Corinthians did mount one further attack and scored a late try to leave the final score at Seapoint 33 Corinthians 12.
Seapoint’s best all-round performance of the season to date with the first half being almost flawless. Lots of contenders for man of the match, Brindley, Ross, Newman were excellent. However, captain Liam Forster gets the nod not just for his two try tally but his leadership and decision making on the pitch.
Next up away to UCD on Sunday 28th – after a five-week run the squad get a well-deserved break next weekend.
1 Eivers 2 Hempenstall 3 Downing 4 Reynolds 5 Campbell 6 Ross, 7 O’Donavon 8 Forster 9 B Whelan 10 Brindley 11 Newman 12 Cronin 13 Cassidy 14 Lawlor 15 Lee
Hammond for Downing, Finn for Reynolds, Balmaine for O’Donavon, Drohan for Whelan, O’Grady for Lawlor, Hand for Forster. Bolger for Lee.
