2XV Match Report - Leinster League

Skerries 25
Dundalk 26

The night of January 21st was kicked off with a game between a hungry Dundalk 2xv and a much improved Skerries 2xv.

From the get go Skerries played into a very gusty, strong wind and knew that they had to play a tight, defensive game until they could get the wind on their sides. After harrowing their way up the pitch Skerries eventually won a scrum and soon after applied too much pressure on Dundalk and Packie O' Connor was able to cross the line to give Skerries the early lead.

For the large majority of the first half it was a forwards game with both teams not wanting to risk to much passing in the gusty conditions.
Dundalk tended to kick most of there ball, but this was easily dealt with by O'Rourke and Scully who were both very impressive on the night, with O'Rourke having a solid defensive kicking game and Scully being the only Skerries back to show an abilty to break the Dundalk line and did so impressively when given the ball.

Skerries took a narrow lead into the second half and would start the next period with the wind at their backs.

The second half saw a similar game to the first, with kicking being the dominant aspect from both teams. Skerries Number 10 Gavin consistently pinned the opposition in there own 22 and eventually Skerries produced one of the easiest trys you will see. Some quick hands across the line eventually lead with the ball in Boland's hands and he was left with the easiest of tasks to touch down for his first try. The next Skerries try was a well worked backs move which saw Scully come off his wing and take an inside ball, go on to make a powerful run into the Dundalk 22 but to be pulled down metres from the line by a scrambled Dundalk back line. This ball would then be recycled and an almost identical try would be scored by Boland.

Presumably Skerries must have thought they had the game won but this was not the case. Dundalk rallied in the final period and managed to grab a try with 10 minutues to go to narrow the gap on the tiring Skerries team, who in fairness had played a lot more rugby Dundalk through out the game. Skerries now had a 6 point lead coming into the final 5 minutes and apart from a run down the left wing from Collins the game consisted of trying to pin the upbeat Dundalk team in there own half. Dundalk managed to get a try in the last seconds of the game and then go on to sucessfully convert it to make the final score a losing one for Skerries. Final score 25-26.

Great effort lads, some top quality displays.