Sport
Brian Mullins The shape of the next Dublin boss? Page 25
Tony Ward: We talk to an Irish rugby and broadcasting legend Page 24
Issue 1 | Volume 22 | 16th September 2008
UCD Skip by ‘Stones
■ Eoghan Brophy Ample evidence of the capability of UCD’s young team was displayed in a pleasing fashion in their third game so far this season. After the game, UCD Director of Rugby, John McClean, was positively beaming. “An exciting game. The score flattered us. We didn’t deserve to win by 17 points. We came back well to win it. We were 10 points down half way through the second half and came back to win by 17. We scored a couple of good tries to win it. We’ll be happy enough with the result. There’s things we can improve on performance wise but it’s early days yet.” He wasn’t far wrong. Just after half time, the outlook was very grey indeed for a UCD side who were trailing by ten points away from home. College opened brightly, with winger Vasily Artemiev breaking
Greystones UCD
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straight from the off and his combination with Brian Cawley nearly saw UCD gain a strong foothold in the game. However, a knock-on gave the home side relief and a chance to clear their lines. However, UCD’s intent was clear. The first score of the game came from the boot of UCD outside centre, Niall Kearns who was awarded a penalty just inside the ten metre line, he promptly slotted it away, giving Students a 0-3 advantage. Opening the scoring seemed to dispell the visitor’s nerves, as moments later UCD crashed over to score the first try of the game in spectacular style. UCD won a tidy
line out and put the ball through a number of phases through the hands of their backs. The move was a display of patience by the Belfield lads; their effort was eventually awarded in the shape of Ireland under-20 international Ben Barclay charging over to extend UCD’s lead by a further five points. The conversion, however, was unsuccessful. UCD had a dream start in the game, but around the twenty minute mark the backlash began. A quick Greystones penalty followed by a converted try from Greystones saw the home-side edge narrowly in front. However, what would ultimately win the game for UCD reared its head at this stage. Constant Greystone infringements offered an innumerable amount of penalties awarded to College and with so many shots on goal it is nearly impossible for a team to lose. Soon after Greystones got their first try, UCD hit back with
a nicely converted penalty. The first half was certainly the tighter of the two with very little being given up by either side. Another successful penalty from Kearns saw college 10-14 up at the break. It was ‘Stones who started quicker in the second half, breaching the UCD line within the first five minutes. This period truly was ‘Stones’ purple patch as from here they stretched their lead to ten points ahead of the visitors. The following ten minutes saw Greystones apply huge pressure on the UCD defence who at were left scrambling at times, to stem the tide. As it so often happens Greystones lost their head and the game began to open up. Kearns slotted away a few soft penalties and UCD were back in the game. Following Kearns’ penalties UCD finally broke over the try line in the shape of Artemiev evading two tackles and running a try in from his own ten metre line, with the
conversion was merely a formality from Kearns. UCD now led for the first time since the first half. In the dying moment UCD managed to score two tries with one credited to Artemiev again. The other, to Kearns who skipped over the line securing UCD’s bonus point and put the game beyond any doubt. After the game Artemiev was noticeably tired having track backed to make a last minute tackle to prevent a certain try. “It was a tough match, start of the season, only our 3rd match. We struggled a bit organisation wise. We took our chances in the second part of the second half. We still get tired, still not very match fit. It is hard at the start of the season. We picked up on our errors at the start of the second half. We Tightened up our defence and thought we finished it out well.” College must now turn their sight to the league and see if they can better last season’s mid table finish.