Edenderry Rugby Club

Edenderry first XV played their first home Leinster League match of the season on Sunday last in front of a great supporting crowd at Coolavacouse.

It was a nice dry sunny day on their home pitch, which looked in immaculate condition, and the game was very entertaining from start to finish. Edenderry drew 13 all with Malahide in a tough encounter which the home side could have just edged but in the end they were probably happy with the draw.

The visitors went into an early 3 nil lead after about five minutes with a penalty, and increased their lead to 10 nil after a good and well drilled move from a Malahide line-out saw the away pack push over the home sides line for the try, which they converted.

Malahide did probably have the edge in the first half but it was largely an even encounter and Edenderry did miss one penalty just before the break, the lines men signaling a score but they were overruled by the ref who saw it as wide. The out-halves on both sides put pressure on the back three with some good kicks and the break down was an extremely hard fought battle with both sides turning over their fair share of possession.  At half time it was 10 - 0 to Malahide.

Edenderry got back into the game well in the second half however, Tom Crampton at 8 had a huge game and it was his break which lead to some good go forward ball and Edenderry did get in in the corner but the try was disallowed for a forward pass.

Malahide couldn't clear there lines, the Edenderry pack putting the away scrum under serious pressure and it resulted in a penalty to Edenderry which full back Liam Holt converted. Edenderry then drew the game level with a great try off a third phase ruck which they spread across the line and starting outhalf Brian O carroll who had moved out to second centre scored in the corner. Liam Holt added the very difficult conversion with a great kick.

It was level with about fifteen to go and again it was the visitors who went in front with another penalty. Edenderry then leveled it again with a penalty from distance again from Holt after a high tackle on Bisto Kelly.

This left it even and the game moved up and down the field in the remaining moments but neither team looked likely to break the deadlock.

A good and well contested game ended in a draw 13 - 13. Liam Holt at full back had another fine game, Tom Crampton was immense at 8 and Sod O'Donnell and Brian Rushe battled hard at the break down and turned over more than their fair share of possession. Rob Conlan moved to scrum half early in the second half and the line up of Conlan, Kelly at outhalf, Cooney, O'Carroll and Cocoman and Farrell on the wings looked very impressive. A lot more to come from this team and they will undoubtedly have half an eye on promotion this year.

Final Score Edenderry 1st XV 13 Malahide 13

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