Adult Rugby Edenderry 2nd XV traveled to Cill Dara on Sunday last for their fifth Leinster League game of the season.
The game was originally a home tie for 'Derry but as the home pitch was flooded after heavy rain the game was played away in Cill Dara. The wet and windy conditions on the day dictated the play to a large degree and this was always going to be a hard slog for the Derry pack as the game had to be kept tight.
Open running rugby was not really an option and the Derry pack really stepped up to the mark, dominating the scrum and line-out and stopping the Cill Dara pack in their tracks. Derry did not have it all their own way however and it was the the home side who took the lead with a penalty after about ten minutes following an infringement at a ruck. Edenderry then enjoyed plenty of possession as they did in the opening half hour and they did exert a lot of pressure on the Cill Dara side and the work rate soon paid dividends as the game was drawn level after good pressure close to the Cill Dara 22 lead to a penalty to Edenderry. Tom Facwett slotted the kick and the game was level 3-3.
Edenderry really came to life as the half went on and the vastly improved fitness levels this season came to the fore as the away side began to dominate the game. Scores were at a premium though as a number of chances were wasted with knock-ons and spilled ball and it was a further penalty from the boot of Fawcett that put the away side in front.
6-3 to Edenderry was how the score remained until late in the second half as both sides struggled to string phases together with slippery conditions under foot and an increasing wind making life difficult for backs and forwards. Edenderry's tackling was vastly improved this week and the home side never really threatened the Derry line, the back row of pack leader Shane Melia, man of the match Conleth Daniels and Ross Sullivan put in a great shift and Cill Dara never had an answer for the level of energy and controlled aggression shown by the whole Edenderry pack.
Much of the second half was played in the home sides half and Derrys half back pairing of Dunne and Facwett cleared their lines well anytime play got to close to their try line. The game was sealed with about ten minutes to go with a try from substitute Tom Mulligan after sustained pressure close to the Cill Dara line lead to penalty after penalty. Derry eventually barged their way over with great strength shown by Mulligan close to the line after Foy popped it to him from a quick tap penalty.
Neither team threatened to score after this but the intensity remained with both sides showing great fighting spirit. On the day for Edenderry the line-out was a huge asset to the away side, accurate throwing from Moo Quinn under tough conditions and some great takes with and against the throw in by Darragh Hickey were essential to the win. The tackling was vastly improved also, the back row as mentioned and the half back pairing along with centres Willie Crampton and substitute Gavin Doyle let nothing past them for most of the game. The scrum also dominated with front row debutant Shane Rushe never taking a step back.
