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Introduction
Welcome to 'InSalmo'. This blog is all about giving club members out there an insight in to what's happening with the 1st XV from inside the smelly (or is it smulley) ranks of the first team dressing room.
I think it's very important that our members feel a connection to the 1sts and the individuals involved, and this blog is a way for us to reach out and make that connection.
At the end of the day, we carry the flag for the club and the club is judged on how the 1st team performs on the pitch and the result we achieve in the league. It's a big responsibility but one we're all aware of and accept. This being said, we're all in this together and we're all here to enjoy it. The boys really appreciate all your support.
Blog 5 Sunday 2nd October 2011
We were pretty relaxed in the sheds before the match. But from the time we came together for our team talk, you could feel the mood change as the boys knew we were finally about to kick off our league campaign.
A common thought was that we’d been working so hard for the last 3 months and that it was all about building towards this match, we didn’t want to let ourselves down and there was a good buzz in the warm up. Despite all the rain prior to kick off, it was near perfect conditions and Dave spoke of not letting the weather get inside our heads and change the way we were aiming to play. We talked about getting physical early on, taking the sting out them and then backing our skill level and fitness to bring us home.
It was a tight affair for the 1st half but we always felt we were on top. They never really troubled us with their attack and it was only our discipline and mistakes that gave them good field position but we were able to repel anything they threw at us. Halftime came around and we knew if we kept knocking on the door, they’d crack. In the corresponding match in Moyross last year, it took us 70 minutes before we really started to get away and we were determined to turn the screw and put them away in the 2nd half.
Thankfully, our pressure turned into points and we got across for a couple of good tries. Conor Power Senior (no Jasper he's not Juniors dad!) went over from the base of a scrum (double movement?) and Ian Burke capped a fine debut off the bench with a try of his own. Burkey is a welcomed addition after joining us from his rep duties with the Leinster U19’s. For a young buck, he’s a good talker and has a good head on him which is great to see. He banged over a couple of lovely kicks at goal too.
There’s good competition across the whole squad which is great and it means every week, some very good players will miss out. Everyone knows they have to perform or someone will readily step in to take over.
In the end it finished 26-6. Josh Russell-Carroll deservedly picked up the FTE Construction Man of the Match. He’s a beast and so hard to put down and made some cracking runs. He only knows one speed and that’s full tilt! He’ll be a handful for opposition teams this year. We were pretty satisfied with our efforts without getting carried away. We can’t wait to head up to Belfast this weekend and take on Instonians. It's gonna be a big one!
Bring it on!
VB
DLSP 26 (Conor Power Snr, Ian Burke tries; Phil De Barra 3 pens, Ian Burke 1 pen, 2 cons)
Thomond 6 (2 pens)
Captain Emmet O'Reilly and Man of the Match Sponsor Frank Taite of FTE Construction