Thurles RFC claim valuable points with solid away win over Charleville

Munster Junior Rugby League

Thurles RFC 17

Charleville 14

Thurles's first 15 were back on the road again in gameday six of the Munster Junior One league last Sunday, making the hour half and half trip to newly promoted Charleville in North Cork.

These were familiar opponents two years ago when both teams were still plying their trade in the Second division of the Munster Junior league and it was at this same venue two years ago that Thurles suffered one of only two defeats in league or cup competition in an otherwise flawless campaign, losing narrowly in a Junior Cup Round 1 game.

It was therefore with some trepidation that Thurles approached this game knowing that despite their relevant positions in the current league they would be pushed all the way here to come away with a win, and this was how it transpired.

The travelling side were very quickly into this game, and it took just seven minutes for Thurles to register the first try. A series of phases and pods in the Charleville twenty-two set up a midfield ruck, Thurles spotting an overload, reversed the play down the blindside with the forwards handling and putting Mark Cummins through a gap to outstrip the cover and touch down wide on the left.

Undeterred, the home team punted to within five metres from yet another penalty conceded by Thurles, on this occasion, with 31 minutes on the clock a good rolling maul breached the Thurles line and the Charleville number twelve converted from wide out on the left. 7-5 in favour of the home team with 31 minutes on the clock.

At the half-time talk, it was clear to players and the coaching team that Thurles had left points behind in that half and whilst the score may not have been reflective of their efforts it was very clear that this was going to be an arm wrestle until the final whistle.

With 10 minutes gone in the second half the home team were lucky not to concede a penalty for collapsing the maul, but Thurles recycled, spinning the ball to James Maher who carried well – two further latch-on carries by Sam Quinlan and Colin Nolan both driven hard by Shane Nugent and Gerry McCormack went very close. A quick recycle fed Sonny Dwyer who with quick hands found Cathal Hayes who pirouetted out of a couple of would-be tacklers to touch down just right of the posts.

James Maher hit the post with the conversion leaving the score at 10-7 in favour of Thurles.

This was to be only momentary respite for the travelling side. The home team responded almost instantaneously. A penalty kick 40 metres out was punted into the Thurles five-metre line by Charleville. The home team’s lineout and rolling maul was effective all day and whilst they did not score directly from the maul, they set up a series of rucks close to the Thurles line before eventually forcing there way over.

The Charleville well converted this to put the score out to 14-10 in favour of the home team with approximately 15 minutes gone in the second half.

Loads of time remained for either team to grasp the initiative in the closing stages of this game. It took Thurles just six minutes to respond and post what would be the winning score and this epitomised everything good about this hard-working pack and the direct rugby employed by them in the second half.

A penalty tap from five metres was tapped and fed to Conor Moloney (who had replaced Peter Kinane due to injury on 50 minutes) who barrelled his way to a meter short.

The Thurles pack then went to work and seven phases later, Luke Kelly having carried hard previously, sidestepped the tiring home team cover to waltz in under the sticks. The lead-up to this try demonstrated the work rate of the Thurles pack, Conor Maloney carried twice, Colin Nolan twice, Stephen Kirwan, Luke Kelly and Sam Quinlan all carried, Gerry McCormack and Shane Nugent were tireless in clearing rucks to secure possession and latching on the ball carriers, before Luke Kelly got in for the pivotal score. Ten minutes remained as James Maher slotted the conversion.

Thurles had some further good chances to seal the game in the last ten but equally they were in no mood to cough up any further scores themselves and seen out the remainder.

Thurles will play Muskerry at home next week in their final game of the league before Christmas.

Thurles RFC: Ger McCormack, Shane Nugent, Stephen Kirwan, Luke Kelly, Colin Nolan, Mark Cummins, Sam Quinlan, Peter Kinane, Seamus Holahan, James Maher, Cathal Hayes, Sonny Dwyer, Luke Fogarty, Noah Mellor, Paddy McGrath.

Subs used: Ciaran Murphy, Jack Kavanagh (for G. McCormick), Dan Diamini (for Steven Kirwan), Conor Moloney (for Peter Kinane), Donnacha Ryan (for Mark Cummins), Sean Ryan, Jack Flanagan.