Sport

Blackrock fail to impress but manage to survive the drop

Blackrock have survived in the first division more by reason of favours done elsewhere than by their own efforts

By SEAN KILFEATHER
Mon Apr 13 1998 - 01:00

Blackrock have survived in the first division more by reason of favours done elsewhere than by their own efforts. Under threat of demotion when they faced a comfortable Cork Constitution at Stradbrook on Saturday, they never impressed their sparse supporters and were well beaten.

A team striving for top-class status should never have conceded two tries in convertable positions in the first 11 minutes. It must be said that they were facing a strong wind blowing into their left corner but their inability to cope with such a situation gave little hope of success. Both of those tries were the result of poor covering and the Constitution full-back David O'Brien must have felt that his birthday had arrived as he snapped up the opportunities which were presented to him.

No fewer than 19 points adrift after 25 minutes, Blackrock did manage to claw their way back into the match with a determined effort just before and immediately after the break.

Indeed, there was a surge of revival immediately after the restart when Blackrock drove towards the Constitution line and Aidan Guinan took a pass from Tom Keating to dive over to narrow the gap to seven points.

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Almost immediately the kind of indiscipline and poor handling which plagued Blackrock throughout the match struck again and Constitution were presented with an easy penalty to leave the home side still 10 points adrift with the wind abating. Blackrock reduced the deficit again, however, when O'Brien, Constitution's hero of the hour after his two early tries, tried to keep the ball alive by knocking it in-field when he should have conceded the throw. Again the alert Guinan snapped up the chance to make it 17-22.

The home side followed this up with a further penalty which gave their supporters new voice but Constitution were far from finished and when John Kelly went over for a comparatively easy try and O'Gara converted, there was no way back for Blackrock.

Overall, Roger Newell and Ken Murphy exerted considerable influence in a strong Constitution pack, with Jerry Murray and Jim Canning also impressive. Ronan O'Gara was a shrewd and effective general, well supported by Brian O'Meara. Blackrock need some more forwards of the calibre of Shane Byrne, Hubi Kos and Leo Cullen, in particular, to give better possession to Nicky Assaf and Owen Cobbe.

Scoring sequence: 5 mins: O'Brien try, O'Gara conversion, 0-7; 11: O'Brien try, O'Gara conversion, 0-14; O'Meara try, O'Gara conversion, 0-19; 29: Kavanagh try, Cobbe conversion, 7-19; 42: Guinan try, Cobbe conversion, 12-19; 44: O'Gara penalty, 12-22; 50: Guinan try, Cobbe conversion, 17-22; 57: Cobbe penalty, 20-22; 58: Kelly try, O'Gara conversion, 20-29.

Cork Constitution: D O'Brien; J Lawlor, N Murray, A Byrne, J Kelly; R O'Gara, B O'Meara; P Soden, F Sheehan, J O'Driscoll; K Murphy, R Newell; J Murray, J Canning, I Doyle. Replacements: J Ellis for O'Driscoll (54 mins), J Fogart for Doyle (61).

Blackrock COLLEGE: T Keating; A Guinan, B Carey, D Quinlan, P Dunne; O Cobbe, N Assaf; D Kavanagh, S Byrne, P Flavin; H Kos, J Ryan; D Moore, T Goldfish, L Cullen. Replacements: B Scully for Carey (17), M Cuffe for Moore (half time),

Referee: L Mayne (Munster).