A.I.L. Div. 3

Midleton lose in close encounter

 

Midleton 15         Nenagh Ormond   16

 

 D.Walker 2 tries                                                         J.Lillis 3 penalties, con.

 J.Holland pen & con.                                                   G.Hermse try,

 

A losing bonus point was scant consolation to Midleton in a match, which they could and should have won if they had taken all their scoring opportunities. Conceding twice as many penalties as Nenagh proved to be their downfall, as former Midleton player John Lillis was successful with every kick at the posts.

Two early penalties from Lillis gave Nenagh the start they wanted. The margin was reduced to 3 points when Holland kicked a penalty, which went in off the post. Lillis restored the lead to 6 points with another penalty.

 

Referee David Connolly never allowed the game to flow and stamped his authority on the game by sin binning a player from each side half way through the first half. Midleton were having difficulty in getting quick ball to their centres where Eddie Tobin had the potential to break the gain line.  Shortly before half time Midleton put a flowing back movement together which enabled Duncan Walker to score in the corner, which was converted by Jason Holland from near the touchline?

 

Midleton lead 10pts to 9pts at half time and following a penalty miss from Holland were dominant in the scrum and the forward exchanges in general.  Midleton used the “garryowenâ€� frequently but on most occasions the kick was either too long or the following up was too slow.   The yellow carding of Gary McArdle half way through the second half upset the Middleton pattern of play. M.O’Flynn substituted as prop which meant Mark O’Connell had to sit out the ten minutes penalty.  Nenagh failed to score during this period.  Ten minutes from the end Holland kicked a penalty into the corner and from the resultant play Walker scored his second try. Holland failed with the conversion, which meant Midleton, were 6 pts ahead.

Nenagh which up to then had not looked like scoring a try, put a sweeping back line movement  together which enabled centre Gerard Hermse to cross close to the posts, Lillis converted.

Midleton camped in the Nenagh twenty-two for the remainder of the game, being held up close to the line on at least two occasions. Holland missed with an attempted drop goal and in the last minute Midleton were awarded a penalty in a kickable position only for Touch Judge Bruce Hannah to intervene and penalise Midleton for an infringement in an earlier facet of play.

 

Midleton will see this as the one that got away but with five points after two games they are sixth in the League and it is still all to play for.

Midleton Team

R.McArdle, J.Colbert, G.McArdle, D.O’Connor, A.McCarthy, M.O’Connell D.Walker, K.Cocking R.Smyth, J.Holland, P.Whelan, B. Morris, E. Tobin, D. Smyth, M.Daly  Replacements S.McCarthy for M.Daly, B.Wall, M.O’Flynn E.O’Shea, P.O’Donohue

 

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