Clane 17-13 Ratoath: Clane avoid a fright on Halloween to win again
Deluges of rain couldn’t dampen Clane’s spirits as they edged a hard fought game against Ratoath on Sunday 31st October. The rain created a scrappy affair, with the referee’s whistle never far from the action throughout. Space and time was at a premium, with both defences working hard to make life difficult for the opposition. However, some clever tactical kicking and the steady boot of Joel Dyer led the hosts to a narrow victory in the end.
Clane had the better of the early exchanges but failed to press home their advantage. They gave up a few soft penalties to allow Ratoath to clear their lines, including a yellow card for a high tackle by Owen Daly. Just as the visitors began to build some momentum, a massive hit from Ciaran McMahon turned the tide as Clane marched back up the field. Penalties at ruck time were a common occurrence all game, and Dyer took advantage from 35 metres to put his side in the lead after 20 minutes.
Ratoath replied quickly with 3 points of their own through Andy Larkin, before Clane forced the issue again. More good work at the breakdown and some strong fielding from McMahon led to another penalty in front of the posts. Dyer dutifully slotted it between the sticks, putting his side back into the lead.
This was to be the last of the good news for Clane in the first half however. The defence was tested again with strong running from Dylan Doyle down the wing, with Clane just about hanging on. Ratoath inched closer and closer to the line as the half drew to a close, due to the hosts being unable to clear their lines fully. The pressure finally told following a scrum underneath the posts. Doyle made a powerful run from the base of the scrum while Clane were slow to react, allowing a simple try right on the stroke of half time. Larkin added the extras, giving his side a 10-6 lead to take into the second half.
Clane wouldn’t take long to respond once things got back underway. This time they got the upper hand at scrum time, allowing Robbie Hyland to drive Ratoath back to their own 5 metre line. With the rain really starting to make its presence felt, the attacking side opted to keep the ball tight. Some probing carries almost got over the line, but it was Steven Dwyer who wriggled over the whitewash to get the try and put Clane back in front. Dyer missed the resultant conversion but quickly recovered, knocking over a penalty to put Clane 14-10 in front.
Ratoath kicked into gear after this, launching waves of attacks at their opposition. They made it up to the try line a few times, only to be rebuffed by dominant tackles from the likes of Ronan Connolly and Daly. Clane were unable to really get a foothold back in the game though, and Ratoath came back at them again and again. A cycle emerged of Ratoath giving away a penalty, Clane clearing, subsequently giving away a penalty, and being put under pressure again. The pack on both sides were made to work hard, with knock-ons becoming more and more prevalent as the ball resembled a bar of soap. Eventually the away team were given a kickable opportunity, and reduced the deficit to one point via Larkin.
It was then Clane’s turn to exert some pressure of their own. Cathal Maguire caught two Ratoath clearances excellently, passing to Barry Connolly the second time, who promptly kicked a peach of a ball to the Ratoath 5. The ball was fumbled at the lineout, allowing Clane some dangerous territory. A high tackle then allowed Dyer to add his final points of the afternoon.
The visitors were determined to leave with something however, and mounted one final assault of the Clane line. The 4 point gap proved crucial, as it meant Ratoath needed to push for a winning try. The hosts’ defence stood firm in the face of the onslaught however. At times it looked like Ratoath had done enough to break through, but committed cover defence just about kept them out. It felt like the final whistle would never come as penalty upon penalty was given by the referee, but finally Clane turned the ball over, once again at the breakdown. Hyland duly booted the ball out of touch, and his side could breathe a sigh of relief.
It was a draining afternoon for both teams, with everyone putting in a massive effort on heavy ground. Clane probably had the edge on proceedings overall, but it was their defence that won them the game in the end with an impressive tackling display. Clane remain 4th in the table, leapfrogging their opponents but falling behind North Meath/Athboy. They do have a game in hand on those around them however. After two consecutive wins, they’ll aim to continue their good form with a visit to Tallaght next week. Well done lads!
It would be remiss to not mention the passing of John “Bristol” Cowan in this match report. John was a stalwart of the senior side for many years and a beloved member of the club. We had to bid him farewell last week, and we were proud to be able to give him a guard of honour as he made his final journey. Both teams observed a minute’s silence before kickoff, and we would like to thank Ratoath for their respect and sensitivity. We would like to think that the spirit, passion, and determination displayed by John during his time at the club was embodied by the lads on the pitch on Sunday.
Rest in Peace Bristol.