In wintry conditions at Letterkenny the students put down a marker that there indifferent recent form is behind them with an impressive 34 – 0 win, and picking up a four try bonus point showed that even in the most difficult of conditions and against good opposition, it seems the limited university team are capable of a style and brand of rugby to ask the questions of the fancied quality teams in the league..
The game started with the students opening strongly and winning a lot of possession Intelligently used by out half Murphy and on several occasions were only a pass away from braking the Kenny defence, pressure eventually told and a penalty conceded was well converted by the uni 10 Lee Murphy.
Great line out work from Dillon and Millar ably supported by man of the match Leonard and the ever improving Neil secured good possession for the students back line and centres Tommy Guns McGlaughlin and Callum Rowden came close on several occasions, however the defensive work of the home team kept the uni out and only one further penalty was the reward for there efforts. Half time 6 – 0 to the visitors.
The students changed their tactics at half time and took on a more direct approach holding onto hard won ball rather than kicking it away aimlessly. Excellent plays involving multiple phases of ball retention from the front 5, lead by Wilkinson and eventually the 1st try came from 6 6″ No 8 Pete Smith.
The tries then started to flow as winger Sam Hall back from suspension grabbed a brace of tries, all 3 conversions successful from the boot of skipper Murphy.
The students pressed for the bonus point try and the fresher G Millar did not disappoint, he ghosted into the line from fullback picking up a lovely pass from scrum half Winder and although held up just short, however the diminutive prop forward Le Massif O’Neill arrived and drove him over the line in what proved to be the last play of the game. The students running out 34 – 0 victors.
