2nd XV 25 v Seapoint 19

A blustery Kilbogget Park played host to what was set to be a physical Metro Cup Quarter Final… and the in-form Lansdowne and Seapoint sides did not disappoint. With the opportunity to attain AIL status looming; Seapoint seemed set to send the message out that they were a worthy adversary.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Lansdowne got off to the perfect start as an infringement in the opening play allowed Andrew ‘Ratzer’ Geraghty and that boot of his to settle the nerves and make it 3-0. A solid kick-off return and some strong pressure from the Lansdowne pack found Seapoint slipping up again allowing Ratzer to make it 6-0.

Seapoint found it hard to get in to the game as their lineout maul weapon was killed a source, not giving them the platform they wanted. Willy Early was his ever impressive self causing trouble for Seapoint throughout the day along with Brian McGeever and Captain William Wallace.

Seapoint continued to keep the ball tight and hammered up the middle with their large pack trying to get points on the board but the Kilbogget breeze was just too advantageous and Lansdowne played a clever territory game. Back in the Seapoint half, some good ball retention built the platform for The Face Quinn to touch down following a chip in behind the defence. The difficult touchline conversion from Ratzer followed and Lansdowne found themselves with a solid 13 point lead.

Seapoint learned that Lansdowne could play the physical game too as Philly ‘The Freight Train’ Horan got his hands on the ball and crashed through the centres on more than one occasion. It was time for Seapoint to move to Plan B which saw great ball retention and the ball moving through the hands to allow backs to produce a well worked team try. Following the conversion the score stood at 13-7. Teams exchanged penalties and went in to the half 16-10 to Lansdowne.

This wind was always going to be difficult and it was not going to be made any easier by Lansdowne’s indiscipline which gifted Seapoint two early penalties which brought the score to 16 points apiece. Ratzer kicked another penalty close to the final whistle but a well taken equaliser from Seapoint left the score 19-19 at 80 minutes.

Extra time was set for two 10 minutes halves. Both teams dug into their reserves and the intensity of the game lifted once again. Geraghty took an early penalty and followed it with another soon after to give Lansdowne a 25-19 lead. The rest of the game was spent defending Seapoint’s aggressive attacts both up front and out the back line. Playing against the wind, Lansdowne found it difficult to get out of their 22 as Seapoint kept the pressure on.

However, time was running out for Seapoint and Lansdowne were able to gain possession and clear to touch, thus ending what was the match of the Metro Cup campaign so far.