Well …… As the cliche goes, that was a game of two halves. A bit of a waste of words really, because every rugby game has two halves.
I can’t remember tension like that experienced during the second half of this semi-final. Cup games are tough experiences when everything is at stake, but this was off the scale. Two superb sides, brimming with big name players, a place in the final on the table, a big noisy crowd.
There is much to be said about the lack of atmosphere in games at the Aviva and I’m pretty sure that members of the chattering class, who attend internationals, would have found a reason to exit to the bar on Saturday, but for people who are members of Clubs, who understand the subtleties of the game, who know the players, the second half on Saturday was Homeric.
The first half fell to a pattern that we often see, with these two teams. Lansdowne scored early with a peach of a try after progress up the left was recycled once for out half Madigan to find Ruairi Clarke wide on the right with a perfect kick pass. Clontarf replied when Ben Griffin was put between the Lansdowne centres down the middle of the pitch. He had the pace and skill to find Sam Owens with a beautiful pass off his left hand and Sam went in by the posts. Silky skills from the big tight head indeed!
Lansdowne added a second following an intercept from Tector, and as the half came to its finish, Clontarf turned down the opportunity to add a certain 3 points and went to the corner, where Jim Peters rose at the back like a salty crocodile and the maul rumbled over for a try to Ben Griffin, which was upped to a 7 pointer by Con Kelly. Including a penalty for both sides, that left the score at 17 15 to Clontarf at half time.
The second half had everything you would want at a rugby game except scores. The defensive commitment from both sides was outstanding and had the big crowd roaring with every shuddering hit that went in.
As the half developed both sides were guilty of tactical errors with the ball, which added to the agony in the sideline. Cormac Foley is a great scrum half, but he may be haunted by a quick tap penalty, when 3 points were certain to put the visitors ahead. However, he was not to know how tight this half would end up. He was tackled short of the line and one phase later the loose ball was snaffled by Fionn Gilbert who seemed to come out of the ground like a trapdoor spider!
For Tarf, perhaps leaving the ball in a goal line maul might have been a better option, given Tarf’s superiority in that phase. I’m being churlish here because I can’t write about any scores !!
As the game wore to its frayed finish, the tension was palpable. Clontarf camped in the Lansdowne 22 but could not control the ball against a frenzied defence. The ball was cleared to the home 22 where, with Lansdowne in possession and time up, the final act was performed by an outstanding Aaron Coleman who got the turnover penalty and the game!
I’d love to be able to name a man of the match. Media would happily give it to Ben Griffin for his assist and his try. Defenders would single out the Tarf back row who were immense in their effort. Worthy mention must go to Sam Owens, who scored a try but whose box kicking was international class and gave his chasers room to compete and secure metres gained. The front five were their usual bullying selves and dominated the tight, with a maul score to show for it.
The Tarf backline defence shut down their more storied opponents, with the minimum of fuss. Everything that Lansdowne threw at them was repelled with interest.
Tadgh Bird got a thick lip so no kissing for a month.
We now move the Aviva and a day against our friends from Cork. Deja Vu all over again!
Congratulations to everyone involved this season.
C’mon the Bulls !
