Edenderry have now gone 4 points clear at the top of Leinster League Division 3, with 3 games to play, after an emphatic victory over Wicklow side Rathdrum on Sunday last.
Derry controlled the game again from the kick off and looked comfortable in the early stages and it wasnt long before they added another try, outhalf Brian O'Carroll with a great break to set up scrum half Shane Kelly for another fine score. Rathdrum did not lay down however and they did get back into the game, when their first center Morgan Sheridan intercepted a Derry pass and ran in under the posts to leave a handy conversion and the score at 10 - 7 and Rathdrum were right back in it. This lifted the away side and they started to enjoy more possession and play with more confidence but it was another intercept try by their outside center Jack Dunne from a sloppy Derry pass that put them in front, again leaving a simple conversion and the score at 10 - 14. The pressure was now on Edenderry and considering Rathdrum had been down to 14 men when they scored both their tries, their hooker having been yellow carded, Derry had left themselves with work to do to claim a victory in the second half.
This was not the first time this season Edenderry needed to up their game after falling behind in an important match and yet again the second half saw them burst into life. After the break they immediately put the pressure on Rathdrum, stringing phases together and running hard at the away sides defensive line. Quick ball from a ruck just outside the away sides 22 saw the Rathdrum defence finally crack, Man of the Match Shane Kelly spotted a gap and his pace saw him slip free and score a great try under the oppositions posts. Brian O'Carroll added the simple conversion and Derry were back in front. 17 - 14. Derry then went from strength to strength. No.8 Tom Crampton made another huge break down the field and Derry were unfortunate not to get another score from the second phase, the ball being knocked on.
The Derry lineout and scrum were solid throughout and when Rathdrum did get themselves into a a decent position to strike back, with a scrum on the Derry 22, the homeside made a great strike against the head and cleared their lines. Derry then pressurised the Rathdrum line with ferocious endeavor. Tom Mulligan worked his socks off in the tight clearing out rucks and David Keenan and substitute Nix McEvoy made some great carries, consistently breaking the gain line and putting Rathdrum on the back foot. Simple hands across the line would have lead to scores on a number of occasions but Derry did make hard work of it at times and it was a kick in behind from Brian O'Carroll after a great lineout take by Nix McEvoy, which lead to the next score. Rathdrums right winger was standing to high up the field and the O'Carroll kick caught him off guard and scrambling back to gain control of the ball, with Tom Fawcett and Sod O'Donnell in hot pursuit. The winger was caught in possession and when he tried to off load the ball Derry center Sod O'Donnell nipped in and dived over the line for the bonus point score. 22 - 14. Derry went on to dominate the remainder the game, perhaps showing an edge in both fitness and strength in depth from the bench, stealing a number of opposition line out throw ins and could have added to their lead with an O'Carroll penalty which sailed just to the left of the posts. The homeside were not finished just yet however and another fine line out take from Nix McEvoy saw quick ball out to substitute Gavin Murray on a deep line, from the second phase Shane Kelly fed a great pass to Tom Crampton who showed a beautiful step to round a Rathdrum defender and barge his way over the line for a fine score which Shane Kelly expertly converted. 29 - 14 and Edendery lead the second half 19 - 0. From there on in Derry robbed further opposition lineout ball and again pressurised the Rathdrum line but 29 - 14 was how it ended.
The first XV's next outing is at home on the 7th of March to Railway Union and a win there could, depending on other results, see them promoted. Also on the day Edenderry RFC will be holding their Open Day to unveil the newly upgraded facilities. Leinster and Ireland Star Johnny Sexton will be down to cut the ribbon, all members will be invited, and all are welcome to enjoy what should be great day for the club.
