Wheeler inspirational

While it will certainly be overlooked by many as a significant surprise in the context of other results, Saturday's convincing defeat by Blackrock of Terenure will be noted in Leinster and not least in Stradbrook and Lakelands Park.

Terenure were odds-on favourites even without some of their more significant players but, after early excursions, Blackrock wiped out the opposition and might have done so more comprehensively had they not been a little too conservative.

What was equally impressive was the modesty of Blackrock's New Zealand coach Kevin West. Refusing to expose his fellow Kiwi Ryan Wheeler to the scrutiny of the media he chatted amiably about his programme of development and expansion and was far from carried away with his unexpected success.

"We are starting out on a plan to make this club one of the strongest in the AIL. Today's result is great encouragement and we welcome it but we have a long way to travel," he said.

The reticence about exposing Ryan Wheeler to the press was brought about by Wheeler's own performance on the pitch. It was quite spectacular.

He might, once he learns a little of the Irish language adopt the slogan for those little yellow busses which travel the streets of Dublin these days: "Go minic anseo; go tapaidh ansuid" - Often here; quickly there". Certainly Dublin Bus might take a look at this man if they intend to live up to their boasts about their bus service for nobody made a bigger impression on this match.

Wheeler was by far the most prominent player on the pitch in defence and attack and he tormented every effort by Terenure as they strove, manfully at times but ineffectively, to get into the match.

Sharing the early part of the match with Blackrock they trailed only by three penalties to two at half-time but as Rock's confidence grew in the second half Terenure were always struggling to keep in touch.

With both sides missing a number of players there is no need to diminish the result of this match. The fact is that Terenure were outplayed comprehensively in all aspects.

Their coach Gerry Murphy could only accept the outcome with a shrug of his shoulders. "I don't know whether to stay here in Stradbrook and listen to the Rock lads gloating or go back to Lakelands and face the abuse," he said with a very wry grin. "We were well beaten. We have no excuses," he added.

It was Terenure who drew first blood with a penalty from Craig Fitzpatrick but Alan McGowan, a highly influential operative for Blackrock on the day, levelled before Fitzpatrick responded.

Blackrock now began to make good use of their back row of Wheeler, Duncan Kennedy and Leo Cullen and the match began to drift strongly in their favour.

The crucial score came early in the second half when Blackrock moved the ball swiftly down the left. Their two wingers, Tom Keating and Aidan Guinan, combined to send Michael Roche over for a try which Alan McGowan converted to leave Blackrock 16-6 ahead.

After that it was mostly plain sailing for Blackrock until Ciaran Clarke, by far Terenure's most adventurous player, made a typical interception just at the end to go over beneath the posts for Fitzpatrick to put a respectable but less than convincing look on the scoreboard.

Scoring Sequence: 15 mins: Fitzgerald penalty 3-0; 17: McGowan penalty 3-3; 20: Fitzpatrick penalty 6-3; 25: McGowan penalty 6-6; 34: McGowan penalty 9-6; 43: Roche try McGowan conversion 16-6; 46: Fitzpatrick penaly 16-9; 58: McGowan penalty 19-6; 67: McGowan penalty 22-9; 82: Clarke try, Fitzpatrick conversion 22-16.

Blackrock: B Carey; A Guinan, E Robinson, M Roche, T Keating; A McGowan, A Boyd; P Flavin, S Byrne, P Jordan; R Casey, H Kos, R Wheeler, D kennedy, L Cullen. Replacements: I McLaughlin for Jordan (64 mins), T Stapleton for Flavin (72 mins), R Lawlor for Casey (82 mins).

Terenure: C Clarke; D Coleman, B Treacy, M Smyth, R O'Connor; C Fitzpatrick, N Hogan; S Baretto, J Blaney,J Campbell; R Sheriff P Holden, D Blaney, G Hill, P O'Malley. Replacements: B Kavanagh for D Blaney (59 mins).

Referee: D Tyndall (Leinster).