VIRGINIA RFC 13
CAVAN RFC 6
In a weekend of derbies you can forget Parkhead and Old Trafford it was Deerpark Virginia where it all happened last weekend. Both of these promoted sides were playing their first game in the new league and it was the visitors that got off to the better start, they were dominating both the ball and field position. Anytime Virginia got their hands on the ball they coughed up possession either through mistakes or giving away soft penalties. It was from one of these penalties that Cavan took their lead which reflected their dominance. The home side began slowly to get into the opposition’s half, however the inaccuracies at both set piece and open play let Cavan off the hook on many occasions. Virginia captained this year by Fintan O Reilly who was Virginia’s most dominant player in the loose was awarded a penalty which Shane Mc Manus struck between the posts to level the sides.
Cavan still dominated terriority however they did not threaten the Virginia try line with Liam Gordon, Patrick Shaffrey and Farrell Brady putting in strong defensive performance. Cian Wogan tried to keep Virginia on the front foot but with a very fussy official in the middle of the park this was impossible. The home side enjoyed a small bit of terriority and after going through some phases and constant Cavan fouling resulted in a yellow card for the visitors however the homeside couldn’t capitalise on the numerical advantage and worryingly it was to get worse with Cavan scoring another penalty leaving it 3 – 6 at halftime.
The second half started much as the first half finished with Cavan with most of the terriority but not doing enough with it however things were going from bad to worse for the homeside as both Fintan O Reilly and the influential Christopher Tully going off injured in quick succession and with Virginia’s second side away in Spain on retreat the subs bench was empty with twenty minutes left on the clock. Ironically it was only now that Virginia enjoyed their most consistent period of the game with Player/Coach Owen Hanratty on the field directing the fowards, Cavan forwards were on the back foot and a illegal use of the boot on a Virginia player on the ground both incensed the home crowd and its players and the player was lucky to get only a yellow card from a referee who wasn’t having his best match. It seemed this foul play lifted the home side’s intensity and drive going forward and within two minutes of this quick play by the Virginia pack got the ball to Shane Mc Manus who sent in a delicate chip into the corner the bounce was unkind to Ollie Lorcher but Conor Smith was on hand to put the ball down in the corner. This left a difficult kick against the wind for Shane Mc Manus but he slotted over with pinpoint accuracy. Virginia didn’t let up with the pressure and Cavan were forced to play out from their own half and while the Cavan fullback was powering out of his twenty two has harshly penalised and again Mc Manus was up to the mark to slot it over. That was the final action of the game. Next week Virginia are away to Ballymoney which will be a sterner test, training is on Tuesday and Thursday at 8.30 and beginners are welcome.
- Cahill, F. Brady, C. Corrie, P. Shaffrey, F.O Reilly (C) L. Gordon ,C .Lynch, C. Wogan, C. Tully, C. Cahill, S. Mc Manus, C. Flanagan, K.O Reilly, C. Smith, O. Hanratty, O. Lorcher
