Our senior men beat Arklow 55 to 24 at home in Leinster League Division 2B on Sunday 18 October. It was eight tries and a bonus point, our third win in a row, and three wins from our first four league games.
Clane started fast and led 19 to 0 after three early tries, moving the ball wide at pace. Finn Smullen’s first try came from the length of the pitch. We led 36 to 5 at half time.
Andrew Duff put Harry Younge away for a try with an outrageous offload. Josh Montgomery, Andrew McCormack and James Donlon also scored. Joel Dyer kicked in the first half, including a penalty, and Rory Kenny took over the kicking after the break.
Arklow came back strongly in the second half and scored four tries for a bonus point of their own. We had work to do at scrum and lineout, and rolling substitutions kept fresh legs on the pitch. Then, from a turnover on full time, Finn Smullen ran in his third try to finish the afternoon.
The win puts Clane on 14 points from four games, level with Garda Westmanstown and Portarlington, who have each played a game fewer. There’s still plenty to work on: more patience on the ball, better execution under pressure and more control of the game.
Next up: away to Garda Westmanstown on Sunday 1 November.
Clane RFC: Mick Jordan, Niall Leacy, Culann Healy, Eoghain McLaughlin, Ryan Johnson, Josh Montgomery, Markbryan Dods, Ronan Connolly, Zak Zebedee, Joel Dyer, Adam Doyle, Harry Younge, Andrew Duff, Finn Smullen, Andrew McCormack.
Replacements: Brian Jones, Cael Chanders, Jimmy McMahon, Cathal Ward, James Donlon, Rory Kenny, Colm Gordon.
