J4s (League): Clontarf 12  Old Belvedere 18

J1s (League): Old Belvedere 14 St Marys 7

J4s (League): St Marys 7 Old Belvedere 24

Academy (Premier): Terenure 8 Old Belvedere 3

Academy (Pennant): Terenure 45 Old Belvedere 12

Conditions were near-perfect for the AIL Division 1B round 11 fixture between Old Belvedere and Galwegians at Angelsea road on Saturday 19^th.  A clear, dry day with little breeze had the potential to enable both sides to execute an expansive game plan.  

Belvedere, currently at top spot in 1B, a single point ahead of Young Munster, had won their last two AIL games and needed to maintain their current momentum to achieve their key ambitions of the 2009/2010 season. Promotion to Division 1A and the Division 1B title this season. Galwegians, currently at 4^th had also won their last two fixtures at home against Ballynahinch and Buccaneers.

On the face of it Old Belvedere should have merited favourites tag, given home advantage. However there were two mitigating factors indicating that the result would not be a forgone conclusion. The first being that Galwegians had defeated Old Belvedere in the corresponding fixture at Crowley Park in November (and in last years Division 1 fixture), and the second being the unavailability of Belvo’s top scorer Dave Mongan through injury. In spite of Mongan’s absence, Belvo were fielding a very strong side and with Young Munster travelling to a difficult away fixture at Ballymena, it was imperative that Belvo gained maximum points to attempt to put some breathing between themselves and Young Munster at the top of 1B.

From the kick-off, Belvo started in a positive vain with Leo Auva’a taking the ball directly into contact and quick movement to the left resulted in good interplay between Andy Dunne, Conal Keane and John Slattery gaining field position in the Galwegians half. However Belvo conceded an unnecessary penalty for sealing at the ruck.

Galwegians mauled poorly from the subsequent lineout and cleared for field position, unfortunately Belvo winger Marcus McAllister slipped while attempting to deal with the clearance kick, allowing the Galwegians chasers to win a penalty for not releasing after the tackle. Rob O’Beirn duly obliged for Galwegians by converting the kick at goal, giving the Westerners an early 0-3 lead.

The first ten minutes were fractious, with several turnovers being conceded by both sides, as hungry defences exploited isolated players. Nonetheless the Belvo pack set an impressive tempo with Jason Risden prominent at breakdown and Richie Leyden and Alan Trenier carrying well in the loose.

 Belvo failed to convert some early chances, on 16 minutes a Belvo lineout was moved quickly to the right, the resulting switch between Andy Keane and John Kennedy gave Belvo quick ball, which was again moved to the right down the short side through the hands of Alan Trenier to Kieran Hurrell, who drew the covering defender but the final pass to Marcus McAllister was lost forward, giving Galwegians a defensive scrum on there five meter line. Galwegians defensive duties were eased by the concession of a penalty for not driving straight at scrum time by the Belvedere front-row.

The early Belvo set piece play had been impressive. Excellent scrummaging from the from the front row of Vinny Soden, Mark Cooney and Stuart Maguire troubled the Galwegians pack and limited their attacking options from the base of the scrum and forced two turnovers. At lineout time Belvo pressure forced Galwegians to concede some early throws.

Belvedere’s second clear cut opportunity came on 20 minutes, when after conceding a turnover, Jason Risden managed to immediately regain possession at the breakdown, Chris Keane moved the ball quickly to the left, where Andy Dunne and Mark Cooney showed some excellent skills in feeding Max Rantz McDonald who chipped neatly over Galwegians fullback Rob O’Beirn  yet the opportunity was not converted as the ball was stolen from the fingertips of the onrushing McDonald through exceptional cover work from Galwegians winger John Cleary.

The Galwegians pack gifted Belvo a gilt edge opportunity from the resulting twenty-two drop-out by conceding a penalty for handling on the ground. Relinquishing the opportunity to kick at goal, Andy Dunne kicked to the corner. At the following lineout Belvo executed a training park move to perfection. Cooney threw to Jonathan Slattery at six, and a subtle pop pass allowed Richie Leyden to crash through the Galwegians defence from close range. Andy Dunne added a further two points by successfully converting, leaving the scores at 3-7 on 24 minutes, just rewards for the Angelsea Road men’s endeavours.

Their second score followed shortly afterwards on 30 the half hour mark when a poorly executed Belvedere lineout on the Galwegians 10 meter line was recovered by Stuart Maguire, who then capitalised by gaining ten yards through inept Galwegians defending. The Galwegians scramble defence failed to react in time and the Maguire’s efforts enabled Belvo to recycle quickly, Chris Keane and Andy Dunne moved the ball to the open side where John Kennedy showed excellent composure in finishing with men to spare on his outside. Again, showing admirable consistency Dunne converted to leave the scores at 12-3.

Overall, Andy Dunne produced one of his best performances this year, with 100% goal-kicking rate (contributing 11 points) and astute tactical kicking from hand that forced the Galwegians side to play the majority of the 1^st half between their 22 and 10 meter line.

Belvedere struck once more before the half-time whistle, with Dunne converting a penalty on 37 minutes for a Galwegians infringement at ruck time. The first half closed with Old Belvedere firmly in control. The single negative aspect of their first-half performance was the number of unforced errors, specifically six knock-ons.

Regardless, the Belvo pack were dominant and providing their back division with quality ball. The backs, meanwhile, were showing creativity and a strong work ethic and securing a bonus point in the second half was not beyond the realms of possibility.

A positive start to the second half for Belvedere resulted in their third try on 47 minutes. After a good break by John Kennedy, the ensuing kick to the corner forced Galwegians winger Tiernan O’Halloran to carry the ball into touch. From the lineout, Belvedere formed the maul, resisted a Galwegians counter-drive and surged over the whitewash, with Leo Auva’a securing the touchdown. True to form, Andy Dunne secured the seven points with a sublime touchline conversion, leaving the scores 24-3 and control firmly in the hands of Belvedere.

The bonus point, however, was not secured until the 63^rd minute. The intervening period consisted of numerous lost Belvedere opportunities, in spite of several excellent breaks from both backs and forwards they failed to capitalise through unforced errors and needless penalties for infringements at the breakdown.

While the Galwegians scrum had strengthened significantly since the first half, they failed to derive any advantage from the penalties they were awarded and at key stages both their organisation and ball skills were underwhelming, with the exception of a handful of breaks from winger Tiernan O’Halloran.

Belvedere’s fourth try was relatively straightforward but executed with maximum precision. A scrum on the Galwegians twenty-two was followed by a quick phase through the pack, after which the ball was shifted to Max Rantz McDonald who outpaced his opposite number and the onrushing cover and touched down in the corner. For the fourth time Andy Dunne obliged converted from an almost identical spot as the third try leaving the score 31-3 on 67minutes.

The final fifteen minutes were somewhat of a disappointment, as Belvedere noticeably reduced the tempo and allowed Galwegians to control possession. In spite of the fact that Galwegians failed to exploit this lapse, a more creative opponent may have left the scoreboard a little less flattering. Nonetheless, it is extremely challenging for any team to maintain consistent levels of performance and intensity, especially when they have acquired a significant ascendancy. Complacency is a trait evident even at international levels of rugby.  In addition Belvedere had the luxury of making five substitutes in the second half without reducing the overall strength and balance of the team.

To summarise, this was an outstanding performance by Old Belvedere who managed to blend territory and ambition within their game-plan. Two tries each for both the backs and forwards were indicative of strong link play and a balanced performance throughout. The forwards outplayed a physically imposing Galwegians pack, the half backs showed a fluency and familiarity that inspired confidence throughout their teammates, the centre partnership consistently broke the gain-line and failed to allow their opposite numbers settle and the back three showed industry and the necessary intelligence to counter and kick on the appropriate occasions. The strength of the performance was reflected in the difficulty in selecting man of the match, with Jason Risden and Richie Leyden featuring prominently for the forwards and Chris Keane and John Kennedy impressing in the back-line. Ultimately the accolade was awarded to Andy Keane by his peers for a near complete performance.

The one negative aspect of the performance was the level of unforced errors and should Belvo successfully reduce the rate they will be extremely difficult side to defeat for the remaining three rounds of Division 1B and any side in Division 1A. Werahiko and Kennedy’s charges managed to increase their advantage at the top of Division 1B with Young Munster failing to secure a bonus point at Eaton Park. They go into their next fixture away to Dungannon playing impressive rugby and with the positive impetus of a side approaching its peak.

Scorers — Old Belvedere: R Lydon, K Herell, L Auva’a, M Rantz McDonald 1 try each, A Dunne 1 pen, A Dunne 4 cons. Galwegians: R O’Byrne 1 pen

We will be hosting a pre-match dinner to mark the occasion and hope as many members as possible will come along to make it a great evening.

As always tables can be booked for up to ten guests and places cost just €25 a person. 

The dinner will start 5pm and will be finished in plenty of time for people to make it over to the main attraction at Donnybrook.

Please email admin@oldbelvedere.ie to book your place.

We look forward to seeing you on the big night.