Clontarf were undone in this game by the power of the Lansdowne pack which, after a huge arm wrestle in the first half, refused to fade and gained supremacy for a crucial 30 minute period after half time.
The first half, played at a ferocious pace, was nip and tuck with the difference being Richie Lane who landed two penalties and a conversion of a score in the right corner from a lovely cut out pass by Sam Cronin. Lansdowne had notched one of their own when Captain Ross McCarron deftly controlled a slippery little grubber from out half Craig Donaldson to score by the posts.
The second half was about Lansdowne power which earned them a good mauled score from Tom Sexton converted by Tom Daly to push them 1 point clear. Daly followed up almost immediately with a penalty as the visitors began to look more and more comfortable.
The game looked well and truly over for the home side until Matt Darcy, introduced at 10 made a superb break to bring ‘Tarf to the Lansdowne 22 . A succession of penalties took the ball to the lineout and from one of these Tadgh Furlong snuck up the side of the maul and placed the ball on the line at full stretch.
We were now looking at floodlit robbery. Leading 18 – 17 and looking at the clock as Lansdowne kicked off. A little bit of Munster maybe? Ball up the jumper maybe?
Tragically we lost possession at this crucial time and Lansdowne to their credit held their composure to force a final penalty attempt which Tom Daly coolly slotted for the win.
So two doses of floodlit robbery in the end but we cannot deny that Lansdowne on the basis of their second half performance were worth the win.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)