Leinster League Div 2A, 

at Rosetown, Newbridge.

Newbridge 16 Mullingar 14

By Finian Coghlan.

For the glass half full neutral observer this was a second bonus point garnered on the road, against a novel, disciplined, and lively opponent.

But for the grinders involved, this was a second match in what is transpiring to be a much tighter division than expected that Mullingar left behind the four points on offer. And those points were on offer. Despite not playing to the full scintillate, Mullingar matched their hosts in everything except the penalty count, and even then they still could’ve won it if Butler’s monster bomb from his own half with the last kick of the game had just a spoonful more mustard on it. After three rounds of matches Mullingar now sit third from bottom (http://www.mullingarrfc.ie/league/119963/),  but yet just four points off the top, a position they could already be lording it from, and this a side with no Brabazons or Gantlys. Yet.

Mullingar had to be on their threadbare toes from the off, however, as Newbridge welcomed them with some gusto, and as early as the 4^thminute needed the pace of Liddy to win the race for a 22.

Mullingar were finding it very hard to get out of the danger area, and twice in the opening quarter hour the touchline came to the rescue.

Predictably Newbridge opened the scoring in the 20^th minute with a tasty tonk from distance, but it was the bucket of cold water Mullingar needed in their face. Two minutes later Killian Daly got his first burn on and he nearly snuck all the way down the blind.

Mullingar were now beginning to boss the scrum, and thus more front feet became available.

Liddy almost unleashed Pyke down that same channel on 25 only for the pass to be a little over-enthusiastic.

They were fortunate towards the end of the half when a penalty under their own sticks was reversed for lip, and a couple of plays later, they’re back in the Newbridge 22 with full menace. Daly went close again, before the pressure proved too much for one homie and his yellow seemed to be the unlocking trick.

Mullingar biffed on about seven or eight phases before Stewie Flynn found Maxwell storming through on an unstoppable line, and Mullingar went to the break a little surprising 7-3 up. Newbridge returned with plenty of vim, and hit the post in just the 2^nd minute.

They then took the lead just six minutes later, after just staying in touch down the left, they opened up the whole field and touched down a tasty score in the far corner which was exquisitely converted into the breeze. They stretched this with another penalty in the 52^nd minute, and had not Stewie Flynn and Cillian Daly not made a couple of try saving hits, Newbridge would’ve been home and hosed. However, sheer Mullingar doggedness kept them in the hunt, right up to the wire. Then, in the last minute of normal time Darech Geraghty got his sizeable paws in the way of a clearance kick, and the chargedown bumbled into midfield where it was expertly collected and shifted on by Butler to the zip merchant Moore who had the pleasure of scoring against his beloved Downs colours. Butler held his conversion nerve and Mullingar were a point in front in injury time. Surely that would be enough?

But no. Straight from the re-start Mullingar conceded a pen out near the right touchline, and though it was an abysmal kick into the middle of the field, Mullingar take pity and concede again in this field position under their own sticks. This time he didn’t miss, and Mullingar handed back their recently achieved advantage. Unbelieveably, there was to be one more twist in the game in the seventh added minute when Newbridge were penalized between the Mullingar 10m line and halfway. Butler lined up for last chance saloon, and though it flew high and true, it just dropped agonisingly under the black spot to a large hometown sigh.

Next match

Sunday, October 22, Mullingar will host Railway Union, with the 2nds kicking off at 1.30pm and the 1^st XV at 3pm.

Scorers:

Tries: Moore, Maxwell.

Cons: Butler (2)

Team: 1. Ben Glennon, 2. Darren  ‘Daz’ Brady, 3. Johnny Moran, 4. Killian ‘Cheddar’ McNay, 5. Daryl Quinn, 6. Killian Kavanagh, 7. Darech Geraghty, 8. Nigel Mills, 9. Donal Liddy, 10. Stewie Flynn, 11. Cillian ‘Fish’ Daly, 12.Paul ‘Maxy’ Maxwell, 13. Ritchie Pyke,  14. Eoin Moore, 15. Johnny Butler. Subs used: Robert Cooney, Sean Ennis.

Try scorers (15.10.17): Donal Liddy, Eoin Moore, Nikki Feery (3), Paul Maxwell, Ruth Daniels (2), Darech Geraghty, Ellen Taite, Katie Layde, Muireann Scally.