High-flying Clonmel score ten tries in the course of landslide win

Clonmel 66 Belfast 14

Clonmel celebrated their 100th AIL game with the team’s biggest-ever win over an understrength Belfast Harlequins side.

In a game where everything went right for Clonmel and the exact opposite occurred for the visitors, Clonmel scored ten thrilling tries in front of an appreciative crowd on a glorious spring day. The sun even made an appearance.

Having flirted with relegation a number of seasons ago, Clonmel now sit top of the league with 59 points, the best points difference and most points scored by any team in the division. They have also secured a top four playoff spot with three games remaining.

Head Senior Coach Pat O’Connor and his management team will be keen to maintain momentum and secure a home semi-final in the remaining three AIL games.

The coaching team have developed depth this season and Saturday’s game saw deserved starts for Ben O’Dwyer, Liam Maher and the versatile and hard-working Zak Cahalane. Having converted from centre to back row with ease, there is no truth in the rumour that Cahalane has ambitions on a front row spot!

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There was also a welcome return from injury of Gerrit Huisamen and a 50th AIL cap for Brian O’Dea who had another big game. Interestingly, 11 of the team started their rugby careers as minis in Clonmel RFC.

Ironically, given the scoreline, Harlequins started the game well and played like a team fighting for survival. Under early pressure, Clonmel secured a defensive penalty and O’Connor, back at outhalf, made huge yards for a lineout deep in away territory.

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From the lineout, great pressure featuring strong carries by Buttimer, Brian O’Dea and Masuku saw Joe O’Connor cross the line for the opening try. He converted his own score to make it 7-0 with just seven minutes gone. O’Connor put in a massive shift and defended like a tiger in the ten channel.

However, Clonmel did not control the restart, leading to a break up the middle by Harlequins. They looked certain to score under the posts when the hit was made. Mick Connellan did a Tadhg Beirne impression to earn a jackal penalty to the relief of the lads drinking pints outside the clubhouse.

Good and all was his as his relieving penalty was, Connellan went one better after a kick up the middle was not dealt with by Harlequins. From the scrum, Clonmel went to the right and Connellan finished the try expertly. The only part of his body that wasn’t in the air was his hand, which dotted down the ball in the right corner.

The lead went from 12 points to 19 points when prop forward Jason Monua channelled his inner Rhys Carre to sprint clear and score from 30 metres.

The next try came just three minutes later after an offload to Connellan, who fed scrum half O’Dwyer, who spotted space on the left. Liam Maher worked hard to get across the pitch from his right wing berth. His run created an overlap and Maher delivered the pass at the right time to release Freddie Davies 40 yards from home.

Not for the first time this season, Davies had the gas to make it home from long range. The conversion made it 26 points to nil for Clonmel and the bonus point secured after just 21 minutes.

Masuku – who went on to win a deserved man of the match award - controlled the restart and fed Luke Hogan, who made a stunning line break before offloading to Ben O’Dwyer, who was running in support. O’Dwyer had work to do from halfway but fended off the attempted tackle expertly to score under the posts.

The straightforward conversion made it 33 points to no score with almost an hour left to play.

On days like this, it appears nothing can go wrong and the next try summed it up. O’Connor‘s attempted chip was charged down but bounced back up into his hands. O’Connor seized the opportunity and made 50 metres, drawing in the covering defender before offloading to Cahalane, whose supporting run was rewarded with his first All-Ireland League try on his first start.

O’Connor’s conversion meant the scoreline now read 40 points to nil after 26 minutes and there was simply no way back for the Belfast side. To their credit, they kept trying to play and didn’t allow their heads to drop.

The visitors got the score their play deserved when a lapse in concentration saw the home side concede a needless penalty for offside ahead of a knock-on. Harlequins went to the corner and worked a strong maul to get seven points on the board.
Henry Buttimer led by example all day and tackled and defended like a man possessed. Harlequins looked to have scored again from a driving maul, but Buttimer had other ideas and ensured the ball was held up over the line.

While under the posts, the team’s leaders urged more concentration and focus. The team responded and from the next attack, Clonmel set up a driving maul of their own. As it rumbled forward David Coyne broke clear and showed great strength and determination to get in on the scoring act. O’Connor kicked a ridiculously good conversion to restore a 40-point lead: 47 points to 7.

Despite the comfortable lead, Buttimer continued to set the tone with a man and ball tackle into touch. From the next attack, Huisamen offloaded to Connellan, who made his way under the posts for his second try of the afternoon.
The half-time score was a scarcely believable 54 points to 7 after the conversion.

The second half was a tighter affair, which Clonmel won 12 – 7. The first score of the second half fell to Belfast Harlequins who again used their maul to great effect.

Maybe on a day with worse conditions, Clonmel would have faced a stiffer test but they played with the freedom that the scoreline and conditions allowed and ran with the ball at every opportunity.

Unbelievable hands and accuracy, with offloads galore, saw Davies score his second try in the left corner.
Luke Hogan had a great game at outside centre and did his own version of reeling in the years and took a leaf out of his old playbook. After a bold intercept, Hogan put on the burners to score from 70 metres. All present could feel his lungs bursting as he outpaced the covering defence and crossed the line.

This was the last score for a record 66-14 win but the team will not get ahead of themselves and know there are bigger tests in the weeks ahead.

Clonmel’s next outing is the Munster Senior Plate final on Friday night, with the kick off in Fethard Town Park at 8pm.

A final word of appreciation to the President of Clonmel Rowing Club, Dermot Dougan, who celebrated the links between rowing and rugby in both Clonmel and Belfast with a lovely presentation to the visiting president.

Clonmel: Sean Sweetnam, Brandon Delicato, Jason Monua, Keith Melbourne, Tom O’Dea, Zak Cahalane, Ben Masuku, Brian O’Dea, Ben O’Dwyer, Joe O’Connor, Freddie Davies, Henry Buttimer (captain), Luke Hogan, Liam Maher, Michael Connellan.
Replacements: David Coyne, Davie Brennan, Conor Bowen, Gerrit Huisamen, Tom Ross.