Old Belvedere V Ratoath

Three cheers for our boys today with their first win in a very difficult league......
Old Belvo's boys were a great match in skill and speed for our boys today and in the end,it was our turn to enjoy the fruits of victory which has evaded us over the last couple of fixtures. This wasn't luck either as our boys applied themselves with all the tools they needed to take the game by the scruff of the neck..... That is "positive attitudes"...."support play"...... "first time tackles"...."communication"... and that inner belief in each other in their team play. In our previous two games, we were slow out of the traps which had us on the back foot and 2 or 3 tries down before we even got started...Today, our U13's took the game to their opposition from the first kickoff and supported each other in their passing and line running.....As shown by Tim's wonderful catch and run down the line from the kickoff..."Attitude" is a great positive that must be taken from today's game.... In the first 15 minutes or so,it was all Ratoath in Old Belvo's half... Our attitude was a huge influence in winning ball in rucks and mauls,in our decision making in which side of the pitch to attack and where space was available to break the gainline. From all of that, we scored two brilliantly taken tries from Brian Lawlor and Lewis Nolan. However,without the build up and effort made by their team mates in loose play and ball handling,these tries couldn't and wouldn't have happened....
We had as close to a full squad today that hasn't been available over the last couple of fixtures and this was great to see.... It gives us options within the team,as well as making other boys aware that there is someone on the sideline just waiting to get on and take their place...
Our forwards were brilliant again today... We dominated the scrum and our lineouts were a lot better than previous games.This in turn gives our backline a great platform to run onto and build attacks...Jack Fennessy and Evun had a smashing game as halfbacks...lovely passes and a nice understanding between them was a pleasure to watch... That comes from good communication from our flyhalf,giving Evun every chance of knowing where to put his pass.Jack,you ran your line very well and distributed the ball brilliantly today...Well done....Ray Taylor lead the way today in showing how important attitude is when the ball is lost to the opposition.... Chasing down a kick in the second half that was put behind everyone and diving on it and setting up a ruck with the support of Jack and Matthew.....From that we were given a penalty and we had won the ball back for attack..... Even Belvo's coaches couldn't help themselves commenting on it too.... Lewis,you were super in open play... lovely timed runs in to the line and ball carrying too... sometimes the opportunity was outside you to give the ball for the overlap but we can work on that..Well done on your try....

There was tremendous strength shown by a good few players today too.... Cian Berkley,Brian Lawlor,Conor Phelan,Tadhg and Sidney....Smoother tackles,holding up the opposition and winning maul ball,picking and driving and breaking tackles are all something positive from the game... Especially Cian in the first half and his try saving smoother tackle on his opposite number which was brave and showed great strength too....Our back row in Donnacha,Calum,Adam and Tim all brought your A game to todays match...Defensively sound and great poaching of the ball.... Much to Brian Lawlor who could give Sean O Brien a run for his money now... Tenacious in his tackles and yet so light on his feet to get up and try a rob the ball while his opposite number was still on the ground.... I lost count of the penalties that he won for us by doing that... But as Backrows go lads,you lot should be very proud of yourselves in how you handled yourselves out there.....Even to see Donnacha make his break from loose play and just get stopped before the line was a great sight indeed... great to have you back to full strength Donnacha!!
This wasn't a great game to be on the wing today and we will have days like this... So sorry to all our wingers today as the ball just seem to make it past outside centres/fullbacks..... Something we will work on for next Sundays game.This is not to say that you as wingers didn't contribute to the game.. Far from it... Dean Leacy in the first half could have got a try had the ball not been knocked from his hands.... You put in some big tackles and you are picking up the expierence you need to get better and better as games are played. That goes for Adam O Conor too....Great to see you get stuck in the second half and tackle your opposite number... The breaks will fall for you in different games,where space will open and give you lot the opportunities to score.
Overall a great performance and a win.... We have Blackrock next Sunday and alot of work to do to plug a few holes in defense and holding our line...
Man of the Match today goes to Brian Lawlor and our quiet soldier today,Conor Phelan.. who had a great game in loose play and put in some excellent tackles in the middle of the park...Well done you two.... Thanks to all our parents who came and supported their boys at such an ungodly hour on a Sunday morning..... We really appreciated it and it was like having a 16th player on the side of the pitch... Thanks for that..