MULLINGAR RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

BUILDING A COMMUNITY SINCE 1925.

MULLINGAR RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

BUILDING A COMMUNITY SINCE 1925.

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MULLINGAR TAKE MAXIMUM POINTS AWAY TO BALBRIGGAN

January 20, 2020

LEINSTER LEAGUE

Sunday 19th January 2020

Bowhill - Balrorthery

BALBRIGGAN 17

MULLINGAR 31


Mullingar moved one game closer to promotion to Division 1B of the Leinster League after a tricky away visit to Balbriggan yielded a bonus point victory.  Two  more wins from the last three games in February will see automatic promotion, versus Edenderry and Newbridge at home and Coolmine away.

The game started very well for Mullingar. Good control and structured play led to Sean Rock getting free along the left wing. He found the supporting Alan Brabazon who made further ground before an inside pass to David Lynam who crossed for the first try after just two minutes. Mitchell Miller converted with a fine kick, so it was a quick seven nil to the visiting Mullingar men.

Balbriggan were penalised on their ten yard line for holding on the ground, forced by Maxwell pressure, but the attempted kick was narrowly wide. Then an unfortunate injury to Cathal Burke held up play. On resumption, Burke was replaced by Donal McGovern and Mullingar continued to dominate. A Darrech Geraghty lineout win led to Maxwell testing the defence on the right, before a ruck going left and Balbriggan conceded a penalty. Mullingar chose the scrum and the front row of Brady, Mitic an Moran got the forward nudge, leaving Campbell time and space to put Glennon over in the right corner. The conversion was missed, so it was 12 – 0 to the visitors going into the second quarter.  

Just a few minutes later, Balbriggan were trying to exert some initial pressure with a couple of phases, but Mitic lined up the intercept well and took it at pace to leave the Balbriggan defence helpless while he stretched his legs to score under the posts. Miller converted to make it 19- nil. Mullingar saw out the first half with good pressure including a couple of five yard scrums and a good Sean Rock break after a well won lineout…………but could not find further breaches in the Balbriggan defence.


At halftime, Mullingar prepared to play into the moderate wind and determined to score first. The bonus point try was scored within the first five minutes. Firstly, Lemeki Vaipula charged through a couple of defenders. Then Miller skip passed to Lynam on the left wing who was held up just short. Balbriggan went offside and Mullingar kicked for the corner. A solid lineout maul nearly made it to the line and Cormac Dunne dived over for the crucial try. The conversion was missed, but it was 24 nil to Mullingar and all looked done and dusted.

Balbriggan however had other ideas. They lifted the physicality and got the home support involved. Mullingar inexplicably seemed to loosen up and gave away possession with speculative offloads and kick aheads which piled the pressure on. With 15 minutes gone in the second half, Balbriggan broke from their own 22 with their big number 6 charging free down the left touchline. Finding support, the try was scored in the corner despite a great last ditch effort from the chasing Miller. 24 -5. Mullingar had not stopped playing. Indeed the tackle count from Moran, Geraghty, McGovern and the combined backrow continued to be high. But Balbriggan got on top and scored a second try within five minutes. The score was now 24 -10 and there was a tangible sense of the game being open for the taking by either side. Luke Finegan replaced Dunne, and Cian Cleary replaced the injured Miller, with Campbell moving to out half.


Then with ten minutes to go, Vaipula made a great turnover to turn the tide and Mullingar at last held on to possession to make inroads. Getting into enemy territory, a good lineout maul from a Quinn take led to an excellent and brave snipe from the young Cleary. Although he was stopped just short, the damage was done. First Maxwell charged at the line and when he too was held short, Vaipula was on hand to charge over from close in. Campbell converted, so it was now 31 – 10. Brian Reidy replaced the effective Mitic to bring much needed energy for the final close out. As with the home fixture against the same opposition, Balbriggan had not given up and they scored a consolation try in the last five minutes from a lovely quick tap penalty charge from their impressive player coach. This last try was converted so the final score was 31 – 17.

Mullingar can take heart that the pack played well and secured good first phase possession. There are areas to work on but Balbriggan showed how they are tough opposition, especially at their venue.


Team: 1. Darren Brady (Captain) 2. Aleksa Mitic 3. Johnny Moran 4. Daryl Quinn 5. Darrech Geraghty 6. Paul Maxwell 7. Cormac Dunne 8. Lemeki Vaipula  9. Thomas Campbell 10. Mitchell Millar 11. Dave Lynam 12.  Cathal Burke 13. Alan Brabazon 14.  Aaron Glennon 15. Sean Rock.

Subs: 16. Kevin Smith 17. Brian Reidy 18. Luke Finegan 19. Cian Cleary 20. Donal McGovern.


Scorers: Tries: Lynam, Glennon, Mitic, Dunne, Vaipula. Conversions: Miller (2) Campbell 

Balbriggan: 3 Tries, 1 Conversion.


Next match 

vs 

Edenderry

Sunday 2nd February

Kick Off

J2 13.30

J1 15.00

ALL SUPPORT WELCOME.

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