Nenagh Ormond 24 Desmond 29

 

Nenagh Ormond under 18.5s played their first game of the season last Friday night. Desmond came into the game after playing UL Bohs the week before. Desmond kicked off the game and got their hands on the ball quickly. They were quick out of the blocks and really had our defence under pressure. However some very good pressure at lineout time and a crucial turnover by Jack Cleary helped Nenagh to clear their lines. The first score of the game was scored by Desmond. After some resolute defence they finally scored in the corner. That score seemed to spur Nenagh on and after playing the first 25 mins with very little ball we put some very good phases together. Anluan White took a pass on an outside arc breaking the line and on doing that beat the last 2 defenders to dot down. Charlie Talbot added the extras to leave the game 7 all. Desmond hit back straight away again soon after with a penalty.  After a brilliant 50/22 kick by Cody O Connor we had a good attacking position in opposition 22. After 2 phases Nenagh were awarded a penalty on the 5m line. Oisin Ryan carried and brought play very close to the line, Kaden Fogarty fed Aidan Steed who powered his way over the line. Extras were added to leave score 14-10 at halftime. Desmond kicked off the second half and Nenagh scored very early. After some good link play between backs and forwards the ball was put through the hands, from wing to wing, Aaron Walsh gathered and beat the defenders out wide to score in the corner. The difficult conversion was just wide. Nenagh seemed to sit back a bit and lose concentration, and from that Desmond gathered possession in our 22 and after a few phases scored close to the posts. That left the score 19-17. Nenagh scored next, after a good break by Jack Tierney we found ourselves in Desmonds 22. From a 5m scrum Anluan White picked and showed great footwork to beat the defenders and dot down. That left the score 24-17. Desmond really came back at us and scored again soon after to leave it 24-22. The last 5 mins was a real ring ding dong battle, Desmond scored again out wide and nailed the difficult conversion to leave it 29-24. Nenagh rallied in the last 3 mins and threw the kitchen sink at Desmond. Nenagh were awarded a penalty and chose to run it, and after a couple of phases Cian Murphy did well to engineer a gap and burst through it, he looked destined to score but Desmond just got a hand in and dislodged the ball. The referee blew the final whistle. Overall it was a very entertaining game of rugby and given it was our first game of the season there was a lot of positives to takes from it and as always a few work ons. 

Training continues Tuesday and Thursdays