Hard-earned win moves Clonmel up the table in rugby's All-Ireland League

Bruff 28 Clonmel 30

Another victory for Clonmel on the road at neighbours Bruff propels them into fourth place in the Division 2C table after eight rounds of the All-Ireland League.

This tough encounter with a powerful Limerick team produced an exciting game, which was however marked by too many high tackles and resultant yellow cards, with a red for the home team.

The boys from the Valley of Slievenamon gained early dominance and threatened to win comfortably before handling errors, indiscipline and some poor choices allowed Bruff gain control and take the lead.

However, Clonmel responded with powerful play from backs and forwards and good decision-making to take penalty points before securing the bonus point win late in the game.

Clonmel started the stronger, varying their game with downfield and crossfield kicks, effective carries by forwards including Brannock, Devanny and Hosek and a penetrating run by Luke Noonan to free up Albert Fronek, who crossed the line for a try after just 11 minutes, converted by Dylan Cadogan.

A melee near halfway resulted in a yellow card apiece for the teams, although Clonmel continued with their varied and dominant play.

Andrew Daly got over the line but was judged to have stepped in touch. However shortly afterwards a move featuring fast ball by Sheehan and Fronek had the ball in Daly’s hands again on the narrow side for him to score on 23 minutes. The conversion was nailed by Dylan Cadogan to bring the score to 14 points to nil for Clonmel.

Bruff now began to come more into the game. From the restart the full back executed a lovely chip kick and collected, followed with a grubber and he made it to the line but was held up by the scrambling Clonmel defence. From the goal line dropout he then attempted an audacious drop goal and missed narrowly.

The home team’s powerful scrum, maul and lineout ensured that they had a good supply of ball, with their outhalf Collins making a threatening line break.

A now dominant Bruff scrum gained a penalty, which was kicked to the corner and well mauled. A breakdown penalty against Clonmel was tapped; fast and accurate back play created the space to put their outside centre over for their first try after 41 minutes.

The first half wasn’t over yet. Clonmel were awarded a penalty for another high tackle. However, the kick at goal was missed.

Dylan Cadogan broke the defensive cover from the restart, centres Noonan and Hogan carried well, while Monua and Fronek got involved before Luke Hogan scored in the corner 45 minutes after the start of the game. The conversion was missed, but Bruff collected another yellow card. The score at half-time was 19 – 7 in favour of the Tipperary team.

Matters were evenly balanced at the start of the second half. Clonmel won a rare scrum penalty against the powerful Bruff pack, but the home team maintained territorial advantage.

Then, what looked to Tipperary eyes a clean intercept by Fronek was judged to be offside.

The home team repeated what worked with a series of lineouts, mauls and forward drives yielding penalties, until they were awarded a penalty try 13 minutes after the restart. This was followed by another high tackle and yellow card for the Bruff centre.

However, though the subsequent lineout was well won, the home pack nullified the visitors’ maul. The scrum resulted in a penalty to Bruff. When another penalty brought the Limerick men to the five yard line, they knew what to do. Lineout, maul, try. The score was now 21 – 19 to Bruff.

The response was immediate. When a Clonmel player was tackled in the air, Dylan Cadogan stepped forward to kick the three points.

The visitors asserted themselves but surrendered a scrum penalty, and the lineout misfired before a surge by Brannock brought play to the Bruff five metre line. The home team infringed and again Cadogan slotted the penalty for a score of 25-21 in favour of Clonmel after 32 minutes of the second half.

A nasty injury saw Alex Sheehan replaced by Matt Hynes, and the Bruff centre picked up a red card for a second yellow card offence. Niall Campion then made way for the return of Jason Monua.

When a strong Bruff attack was foiled by holding on, Clonmel surged down the field, with Hynes exploiting a gap in the home defence to score the bonus point try, which was not converted, 39 minutes into the half.

There was still time for a Bruff attack, with a series of Clonmel penalties yielding territory.

A final penalty close to the line was tapped, with the home forwards muscling over close to the posts for their bonus point try.

Although this win moves Clonmel to fourth position in the table, they are still just a point ahead of sixth position. The result was very close, especially given the amount of time the opposition were down to 14 men.

While Bruff suffered from indiscipline, so did Clonmel – Bruff’s last try was a march up the field from a series of penalties.

Nonetheless, Clonmel showed real offensive thrust, with generally good control and decision-making by half backs Sheehan and Fronek. Wings Daly and Slattery were a threat from fast ball while the forwards Brannock, Monua and Devaney made ground in the loose.

The next match is at home at Ard Gaoithe this Saturday December 10, when we welcome Sundays Welll from Cork. All support is welcome.

Clonmel squad: Niall Campion, Rob Wynne, Jason Monua, Tony Cantwell, Diarmuid Brannock, Brian O’Dea, Diarmuid Devaney, Dan Hosek, Alex Sheehan, Albert Fronek, Andrew Daly, Luke Noonan, Luke Hogan, Dean Slattery, Dylan Cadogan, Matt O’Toole, Brandon Delicato, Jack Lonergan, Sean Sweetman, Mathew Hynes, Tim Nugent, Darren Slattery.