Arklow R.F.C. downed by Guinness

Guinness R.F.C. 13 Points Arklow R.F.C. 8 Points

Some days you are better off staying in bed, this was one of those days, with a vengeance.Arklow's approach to this game was poor and lacked direction.

Guinness had a strong, big, aggressive pack, and put these advantages to good use. They drew Arklow into a game that did not suit them, and Arklow made too many errors when they had possession.

Having a single penalty each after the first twenty minutes, and the play was also more in Guinness’s favour, with the slight hill and sun in their backs.

Arklow struggled but competed well. From the kick off Arklow were off the mark and the consistency and good play that has been there, up to the last two games was missing and misfiring.

Guinness kept the ball in their pack and made all play from there, they invited Arklow's slightly smaller pack to ruck and maul and then after a number of mauls the Guinness backs were used. Arklow defended very well.

Arklow held out successfully until just before half time when an attempted clearance by Arklow was blocked, and the Guinness blocker reached the ball first to score a try the conversion was difficult, but successful.

Guinness was in the lead ten points to three and added a further three points just at the end of the first half. 13 points to 3 with Arklow having the setting sun and hill in their favour in the second half, Arklow could hope.

Hope alone is not enough Guinness gained too much go forward ball, right from the start of part two and Arklow struggled to attack, against the more physical Guinness forwards, while not threatening the Arklow try line much, Guinness were content to ruck and maul in midfield until the end of this game.

Arklow were a bit too repetitive in attack more ball should have been passed out wide and attack from the centre and wing. A yellow card to Arklow by a fastidious referee, made Arklow's problem more complicated.

But Arklow buckled down and started to apply pressure on the Guinness team and after a series of penalties, Arklow ended up being awarded a scrum at the 5 meter line which they pushed the bigger pack back over their own try line to score a good try the conversion was missed and hope returned.

With the score line now 13 points to 8 Arklow needed some to get the ball straight back down again into the Guinness 22 but again with penalties to both sides from the overly fussy referee, the play swung between the two twenty two meter areas.

Arklow could not get the ball into the danger area and keep it there and try to score by applying pressure in the 22 meter zone.

This game was won by a more determined home side, as they were more aggressive, and was more aware that this win would go a long way to securing the league with this win.

Arklow were not firing on all cylinders for this match. There is no point in dwelling on these last two lost matches; the only important thing is the next league match. Put these two matches in the rugby bin of history and move on to Tallaght.

Next week we need to get a little extra from the players as this match away to Navan is the first round of the Provincial Town Cup and will be a very difficult task as they are a club with a senior team in the AIL and would use this teams players as replacements.

Arklow must give it the best they can and that is all we can expect from any team. The Arklow team is not short on courage or commitment but need to develop a pattern of play that best suits all their talents.

Team panel

John Louth.
Eoin O Scannaill.
Shane Byrne
Stephen Snell
Ian Hart
Tom McDonald.
Aiden Louth.
Steve Considine.
Ben Diaper.
Ross Vigors.
Mark Hynes.
Mark Van Esbeck.
Johnny Butterworth.
John Furlong.
Shane Nalty (C)
Kieran McCarthy.
Clive Horan.
Dean Mc. Cormack.
Rob Mc Cormack.
Shane McAllister.
Michael Furlong.