Lansdowne enhance title prospects

LANSDOWNE went to Templeville Road on Saturday in second place in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League to face the leaders on their own ground. It represented a test of will and resolution no less than skill for Lansdowne.

But they left the scene having passed all examinations with merit and their 19-13 victory saw them take over the top position and inflict a first league defeat on St Mary's College.

Here we had two Leinster clubs with the leadership at stake in a competition that has been an exclusive Munster preserve since its inception. St Mary's went into the match in the immediate aftermath of having laid the Limerick bogey a fortnight earlier. A win would consolidate their position at the top and at the same time inflict a severe blow to Lansdowne's hopes of the title. So an occasion that embraced all the incentive for a really big performance.

By winning, however, Lansdowne not alone considerably enhanced their own prospects but did a big favour to the others with designs on the title. Nor did Lansdowne's win owe anything to good fortune in a match that was never less than intense and in the balance until Eric Elwood kicked a penalty in injury time that left Lansdowne six points clear.

But while it was not until the very end that Lansdowne closed St Mary's out, their performance in the final quarter, notably that of their pack and halfbacks Alan O'Sullivan and Elwood enabled them to seize the initiative and a crucial lead with four minutes remaining when Elwood kicked a penalty to give his side a 16-13 lead.

A cold wind blew down the pitch, the kind of elements likely to have a profound bearing on the trend of events and the quality of the rugby. Lansdowne had the benefit of it in the initial period but a 13-5 interval lead did not by any means represent a comfortable advantage. St Mary's, at that point, looked the more likely winners. They had contained Lansdowne, their pack had done well, especially in the line out and they had reason to feel content. They had scored an important try finished off in customary style by right wing Denis Hickie. That in fact gave St Mary's a 5-3 lead after 12 minutes, Elwood had kicked an early penalty for Lansdowne.

Hickie also brought off two excellent try saving tackles and a second penalty from Elwood in the 20th minute was ally Lansdowne had to show as the match entered its 40th minute. Then Lansdowne got a try just on the stroke of the interval when Marcus Dillon crossed in the right corner. Elwood, who missed a relatively easy penalty in the 32nd minute, as had Craig Fitzpatrick for the home side in the 17th, kicked a superb conversion.

"I felt at the interval that we would win it," said St Mary's coach Ciaran Fitzgerald. So did just about everyone else.

But enter Lansdowne coach Donal Spring. There are few more shrewd. He addressed Lansdowne's problems in the line out and curbed the threat of Steve Jameson. "They sorted out their problems in the line out in the second half and that was important. They were quicker to the loose ball and better in the rucks," said Fitzgerald. If you do not perform you do not deserve to win and we did not deserve to win. It is a bit of a setback but the league is still wide open.

The celebrations in the Lansdowne dressingroom after the match left no doubt at all as to the importance of the win and the satisfaction they derived from it. "It was a crucial win for us and over the 80 minutes we deserved it. The wind was a factor but under the current laws it is not as important as it was. I was especially pleased with our line out in the second half and that had a very profound bearing in the trend of the match," said Spring. And so it had. He was fulsome in his praise for scrum half Alan O'Sullivan, called in at the last minute to replace David O'Mahony, an influenza victim. O'Sullivan made a nervous start but grew in confidence as the match progressed.

The Lansdowne back row of Stephen Rooney, who had an outstanding second half, Colin McEntee and Andrew Doyle were very influential in this win and their admirable work did much to give the side a pronounced superiority in the vital closing quarter.

But it all seemed to be going to plan for St Mary's when Fitzpatrick kicked a penalty in the 50th minute and Victor Costello got a try in the 58th minute to bring the sides level. But Lansdowne steeled themselves for the challenge and produced the requirements in the last 20 minutes during which time St Mary's never really threatened. Elwood's two penalties in the 76th and 84th minutes proved decisive and it took a fine tackle by Ray McIlreavy assisted by full back Peter Nowlan to save the St Mary's line when Dillon was knocked into touch at the corner flag.