Tallaght Rugby Football Club

TALLAGHT R.F.C. 13

Try: Colin Malone
Conversion: Danny Behan
Penalties: Danny Behan 2

RATHDRUM R.F.C. 18

Leinster League Division 3
15/01/12 Tymon Park

Tallaght took on Rathdrum in Tymon Park in their Leinster League Divison 3 clash.  Danny Behan gave Tallaght the lead with a penalty kick but Rathdrum hit back to level the score with a penalty of their own.  Tallaght suffered a blow after ten minutes when scrum-half Brian Massey was shown a yellow card for a late tackle.  Despite being a man down they battled hard and regained the lead when Behan kicked another penalty to make it 6-3.

Tallaght’s discipline was poor though and they were repeatedly conceding penalties and finally Rathdrum took advantage with a successful kick to level the score at 6-6.  Then shortly before half-time Behan made a massive punt from inside his own 22 to put the Rathdrum winger under pressure forcing him to concede a lineout in his own half.  From the lineout Tomas McKenna and Andy Grace made powerful carries and Massey spotted winger Colin Malone in space to put him in for the try.  Behan converted and Tallaght led 13-6 at half-time.

Tallaght started the second half very well but some basic errors let Rathdrum in for a soft try.  The conversion was missed and Tallaght still led 13-11 but the score seemed to knock their confidence and they were on the backfoot from then on.  Rathdrum were smarter at the breakdown and the game became dominated by kicking from both teams.  Eventually Rathdrum made the breakthrough when their big inside centre smashed through three tackles to score under the posts.  They made the conversion to make it 18-13 and that was the final score of the game.  Tallaght had a chance in the final play of the game to get a winning score but the wrong option was taken and the chance was squandered.  It was a disappointing defeat for Tallaght but Rathdrum probably just about deserved their win.