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Tullow RFC 20 – 20 Monkstown FC

As Monkstown descended on Tullow’s sacred ‘Black Gates’ the weather took a turn and so too did the home side’s season. The ‘towns match day contingent made their way into the countryside on what looked to be a crisp and bright November evening. A bowl of pasta and pre match meeting in the Mount Wolsley Hotel set the tone straight away. There was an undercurrent present of what this game meant and anyone who was there could feel it. No sooner had both sides entered the field of play and the heavens opened. An element both sides would have to get used to for the remainder of the day.

Tullow have been the talk of the league up till this point with their impressive overhaul of wins and bonus points, but little noise has been made of the Monkstown defence that until now has leaked fewer points than any other team in the league, including league leaders Tullow. A win today for either side would have a massive impact on how the season was to continue.

Knowing what was at stake, Monkstown began the hungrier team. This was a characteristic that was to stay with the visitors for the full 80 minutes. Early pressure coupled with the clever kicking of Dave McAllister saw Tullow pinned to their corners for the opening quarter. The home side got little respite and from the tee McAllister kicked Monkstown into a tense 6-3 half time lead.

As the second half resumed so too did the teeming rain and scything wind that now lashed the faces of the Monkstown men. Not phased, the Monkstown pack continued to dominate in the air and at the breakdown. Tullow were failing to secure their own ball at the line-out and it was costing them. However, completely against the grain, and testament of what it is Tullow have been doing all year, they broke from a distance out to touch down for their second try of the day. Not that this game needed it but suddenly it was more alive than ever. Monkstown trailed 17-12 and the home support grew.

A trait that is becoming omnipresent with Monkstown (never say die) again took hold. The Dublin men rattled down the park and through tee and drop goal, Dave McAllister kept them in it. The pack gave him the ball he needed and he nodded a drop goal through from under the posts. Shortly after, Robbie Ensor decided it was time to get his name on the score sheet again. An opportunistic chip over the defensive wall saw the left winger hurtle past two Tullow jerseys to touch down in the far corner. McAllister was stretched from the touchline and at 17-17; the scoreboard reflected the efforts of both sides. This one was going to go to the wire.

The remaining minutes saw both sides trade blows in appalling conditions. One penalty a piece from the two table toppers left the score line at a just, 20 points apiece. Both sides will have felt they could have taken this one, but travelling down to Tullow who have up till now won every game and taking the two points, has certainly left Monkstown in contention when the two sides meet again on the last day of the season in Sydney Parade.

Monkstown Team

15. Padraig Twomey

14. Robbie Ensor

13. Rory Alwright

12. David Kilbride (c)

11. Kyle Kirkpatrick

10. David McAllister

9. Dave Morris

8. Omar Hassanein

7. Jeff Draper

6. Jack Harte

5. Cian Duggan

4. Ross Bradshaw

3. James Clifford

2. Eoin Murphy

1. Ivan Dunn