Old Christians RFC

Old Christians 23 vs Crosshaven 18

Crosshaven, 14:30PM

Crosshaven 18 Old Christians 23
Christians reached the quarter final of the Munster Junior Cup with a hard earned victory over Crosshaven today. We played against the hill and the wind in the first half and we took a long time to get into the game. The Seasiders had a penalty after two mins and a second after five as we struggled to get going. Indeed it took a fine Peter Twomey tackle after 20 mins to avert more danger.
After this however, we finally raised our game, we got into the home 22 and Alan O'Dea blocked the clearance kick. This led to a lineout which we duly won and mauled to the Crosshaven line, before Paul McGrath got the touchdown. Aidan Tobin converted from the touchline and we found ourselves in front despite our poor start.
Five minutes later, a great drive by Rob Stapleton, (he once told me he's really a centre), forced a penalty and Tobin duly added the points.
Having played against the wind and the hill, most of us we happy to accept 10-6 at the break. Just before the whistle, we got a scrum inside our own half, Alan O'Connell broke the first line of defence and began to run. He ran and ran and just when it looked as if he would be caught short of the line, a change of direction took him clear for what may well be the try of the season. Aidan Tobin again converted to give us a 17-6 half time lead.
We started the second half brightly enough and 13 mins passed without a score, before Aidan Tobin stretched our lead with another penalty.
It looked done and dusted at this stage but whether we took our foot of the pedal, or the home side found another gear is hard to say.
On the 60 min mark we lost a man to the sin bin and Crosshaven got a converted try. The home side's tails we up now and it took a fine Mossy Murnane tackle to keep them out, but within 4 mins they scored again, We had a clearance kick blocked and we unable to scramble back. The conversion was missed, but there now was just two points between the sides.
We held our nerve over the next ten minutes, with a couple of fine kicks from Stuart Lee driving the home side back.
With about 4 mins on the clock we took lineout ball in the Crosshaven half and mauled forward. When the maul was pulled down, Aidan Tobin again converted to give us a bit of breathing space and we duly held out for a fine win.
Man of the match, Alan O'Connell.


A great stretch by Alan O'Connell secures lineout ball.
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Alan O'Dea's clean take.
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The lead up to Paul McGrath's try.
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here you are Stu.
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Scrum time with former Old Christians player Eoin Dean at tight head for Crosshaven.
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Going out on a high.
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Lán Chúl.