After watching a 1st half where the flow of play was all with Wanderers a change of tide saw Malone turn the game on its head with a 25 minute wave of points to gain a crucial AIL victory 27-16.
With another week of extremely wet weather where even training was a difficult task on the sodden pitches, it was pleasing to have the game going ahead and on a surface that would allow some running rugby. The pressure was on both Malone to react to a home loss to Clonakilty and on us to back up a solid performance against Thomond the week earlier.
From the kick-off Wanderers played the Rugby that we talked about pre-match, dominant at the breakdown and in our defensive line to shut down Malone’s attacking threats. This was having a positive effect with Malone taking some bad options meaning we gained the right field possession for long periods.
After a couple of misses Daithi Fitzgerald got the radar on target to take a 3-0 lead after 10 minutes. Plenty of possession and position but no more points until another penalty after 30. We really needed to nail it home to Malone but couldn’t even with 2-3 opportunities that looked sure to pick up 5 pointers. Another penalty and it was 9-0 but then with Malone picking up 3 right on the half to narrow the margin.
The need not to panic but to keep the collective effort going and to finish off opportunities with smarter decision making would give us the upper hand. For the next 25 minutes you would have had to be present to believe such a change in control of the game was possible. The start of the rot was after 7 minutes with Malone just converting a successful penalty when our back rower Kolo Kiripati was forced from the field. This had a huge effect on both teams with Malone taking advantage, doing exactly what we were doing in the 1st half. A huge drop-goal that sailed over comfortbly from the 10 metre line equalled the score and when out-half Billy Treacy was sin binned for not rolling away at the breakdown Malone and their supporters were right back into the game. Our discipline that was deteriorating under the change of flow in the game and cost us 3 more points. Then there was a Malone scrum on the half way which led to a blindside move and utilising our man down status, a break was made and a lucky chip kick which bounced off a defender and into another attackers arms to lead to a try that was converted and a 19-9 advantage. The wave of points continued with Malone over in the corner when an over-lap was created by some bad defensive communication. The conversion attempt was missed and the score was 24-9 after 65 minutes.
Captain Bevan Cantrell, who had an outstanding game, refused to give up and lead his team back into the Malone half and asked some serious questions of the Malone defence. Credit to Malone who remained staunch and gained more comfort with another drop-goal from there outhalf who was leading his team to a dream 2nd half performance. Finally more urgent play and the patience that was needed to bridge the Malone line with sub front rower Paddy Green crashing over close to the up-rights. With 2 minutes to go the hope of at least picking up a bonus point but with the final whistle blowing on any chance of that. Serious lessons on having to convert dominance by keeping the concentration and reacting better to things out of our control. We showed what we are capable of but let ourselves down which hurts after putting in so much effort. That commitment will be needed this week as we prepare ourselves for the huge task of taking on a Young Munster side who will be seething after losing to Thomond on Sunday. We have to be confident that if we continue to work hard and take each obstacle one at a time we will get the bounce of the ball we need.
