On a day made for rugby UL Bohemain RFC U15’s took to the the pitch in Pa Healy’s field (better know in modern terms as Grove Island). Is was a fitting venue considering the opposition, the combination of Ballina/Killaloe and St Marys are in part coached by the great Brendan Foley who cut his very teeth as a young rugby player in this very same venue some years ago.
The game started a a relatively low pace with each of the sides cautiously testing the others defences. The home side had the majority of the possession in the opening ten minutes but failed to make any great penetration into the Bohs half of the field. Bohs defend quite well albeit without dominating the contest.
As the game progressed Bohs, led by the capable Adam Sweed, started to dominate the collisions and made some telling ground. With possession of the pill, Bohs now started to pull the strings and with a good combination of hands and a sublime cross filed kick by Robbie Widger collected at full gallop by Conor Ryan they opened up the field to send Calum Condon in for the first of the team’s try’s. As a work in progress and following on from the last game a much improved breakdown allowed the three quarters too run at the opposition creating chances for the some sublime handling and for the forward pods to get into their shape.
The trust in the shape and structure was rewarded with with the afore mentioned Adam Sweed cantering in under the posts to make the additional two points a certainty. Bohs had certainly found their rhythm and played an open and fast flowing game to add on another three try’s before the short whistle.
On commencing the second half Bohs hit the ground running and instantly picked up where they had left off, with what I have been reliably told are ankle breakers (in my days it was a side step, like the great Bill McLearn would say “He could sidestep three men in a telephone box”), Conor Ryan left a trail of desperately flailing bodies in his wake to cross the whitewash for try number six. Stung in to action Ballina/Killaloe St Marys, raised their game tenfold and mounted a storming come back. From good primary possession Brendan Guilfoyle released Alex Quinn up the middle on a devastating run leaving a trail of destruction behind him as he dotted down under the black spot.
With a quickly taken conversion and the following restart, Ballina/Killaloe St Marys again attacked from deep, making good ground on the edge, with the ball quickly recycled they again scythed through the Bohs defence to add to their tally. Bohs responded with the flying Calum Condon loping in from forty meters out to put the icing on the cake. The opposition were not finished yet and to their credit they kept fighting to the end and breached the Bohs defence to add another seven pointer.
All in all a good all round performance. We have Shannon RFC in two weeks time so it gives us time to iron out or improve on one or two issues form todays game. Good to see some of our own lads back on the paddock for the first time this year putting in an assured performance, now that the hurling in North Tipp has finished., Roll on Thursday night
