Wanderers came up just a little short against UCD at Belfield Bowl in the McCorry Cup, last Sunday. The fulltime score was 6 - 6, meaning the game would have to be settled by two 10 minute periods of extra time. The final score delivered two minutes from time saw UCD secure the win with a penalty to leave the score 12 - 9 to UCD.
Wanderers knew they would be playing against the odds, with UCD two divisions ahead of Wanderers at U20s level and a division ahead at senior level, not to mention the influence of the UCD academy and numerous underage representative players lining out for collidge.
The game would start and be played out as a cagey affair, with neither team willing to move the ball as a more cautious approach was adopted. Wanderers started the game without key centre Rory Pratt as he started the previous day for the senior XV, in the wonderful victory against DLSP. Pratt was introduced early in the 1st half, but an injury to his eye would see an almost immediate withdrawal to the blood bin. Another 1st XV player Paddy Brophy replaced him, and had an outstanding game. UCD buoyed by the wind at their backs, dominated territory and managed to attain a lead of 6 - 0 through two well taken penalties by their flyhalf Neil Cowhey. UCD managed to create some good attacking opportunities through surging runs from ex-Belvedere College No. 8 Jonathan Slattery and Ireland U20 prop Ben Barclay, but Wanderers defence was resolute particularly in the from of Donagh O’ Shea at openside flanker and the irrepressible Patrick Larchet in the midfield. Wanderers would receive another injury blow before halftime with right wing Luke Halpin suffering a fractured rib, leaving replacement scrumhalf Ross Donovan to fill the void.
The 2nd half would see Wanderers in the ascendancy, dominating territory through incisive kicking by the 9 10 duo of Conal MacMahon and Gareth Redmond. With numerous Wanderers players beginning to exert their influence on the game, particularly Michael Kevany and Nico Reynolds, scoring opportunities were sure to follow. And they did in the form of two smashing penalty goals from flyhalf Gareth Redmond. Both UCD and Wanderers both had chances to win the game, with attacking scrums just 5 yards from the opposition goal line, both defences stood firm. The fulltime scoreline read UCD 6 Wanderers 6.
The 1st period of extra time had Wanderers again on the front foot despite another backline reshuffle, after the loss of flyhalf Gareth Redmond to a calf injury. Conal MacMahon moved to flyhalf and with some other movements, it left reserve hooker Sean Skehan on the wing. It was Conal MacMahon who would put the Wanderers in the lead for the 1st time, with a brilliant drop-goal after smashing work again from No. 8 Reynolds and lock Kevany and a brilliant swirling run from fullback Peter Lynn. Wanderers held the lead until the last play of the extra time 1st period, when Neil Cowhey again struck for UCD with a long range penalty. The 2nd period of extra time had both teams out on their feet, but the game was still very much on and swayed end to end. The defining moment came when Wanderers were penalized for hands in the ruck, to an incensed traveling support as it seemed UCD should have been penalized for holding on. Again Cowhey stepped forward and converted the penalty. Wanderers battled on, running from deep and throwing caution to the wind but couldn’t convert their pressure to points. At the final whistle both shattered teams could barely stand, but there was finally a result of 12 – 9 to UCD.
Wanderers U20 coaching & management staff would like to thank the players for an outstanding season, in particular the players playing their last game at U20 level last Sunday. The achievements of the squad can not purely be measured in the category of a win/loss bracket. While they have been very successful in that regard, their membership for the club has been more than that. The Squad now tour Portugal and leave on Tuesday.
A huge thank you goes out to the traveling support, which completely drowned out the UCD crowd, and contributed hugely to the cup atmosphere.
