Dolphin leap to top spot with big win over the ‘Well

Sunday’s Well 13

After what was, in truth, an uninspiring and often dull encounter, Dolphin took whatever chances came their way and utilised every scrap of possession afforded them, while

Sunday's Well more often than not spurned the opportunities that fell to them, and the home side were left licking their wounds and wondering where their first win of the season is going to come from.

Phlegmatic as ever, home coach Murray Kidd was left to ponder the reality that the 'Well's near neighbours were the best side his outfit has met so far this year in the division and that he now has to turn his team's fortunes around before it is too late.

His Dolphin counterpart and fellow Kiwi, Hamish Adams, on the other hand, can reflect on the truism that winning is habit forming and the confidence bristling through his team has them on course to rattle the promotion race.

"We didn't put as many points on the board as we should have," Kidd reflected later, "while Dolphin took their chances and were good for the win. We did have a disallowed try which was probably the turning point, but we made too many unforced errors.

"We know we lack experience, but sooner or later we are going to have to front up. We were killing ourselves on many occasions during the match, but Dolphin played a good brand of football and they deserved what they got.

"In terms of effort, my guys put in 100% and I cannot complain about that, but Dolphin are probably the best side we've met this season and you have to credit them for the way they played," Kidd said.

Played in excellent conditions considering the recent prevailing monsoon season, this game failed to come alight for most of the first half, and after 32 minutes there were only nine points on the board, six for Dolphin courtesy of two John O'Mahony penalties and one for the 'Well from Eddie Hogan O'Connell.

There were signs that this had the potential to become an entertaining game with Mike Pettman and Mick Manning looking threatening for the visitors, while Cronan Healy occasionally sparked the Well's attacking instincts.

With Richie Daly having been recalled from a short retirement in Junior rugby to play outhalf, the 'Well were not lacking experience in the halfbacks, but much of their game was naively played around the fringes where Dolphin were giving nothing away.

That was until the 37th minute when, after a period of sustained 'Well pressure deep in Dolphin territory, second row Mick Murphy spotted a chink in the defensive armour and shot through the gap to score a somewhat unexpected try just before the break.

There was much greater intensity from both sides after the break and O'Mahony restored Dolphin advantage with a penalty four minutes after the re-start 9-8, before what Kidd reckoned was the turning point.

The 'Well forged a good break up the left and fullback Andrew Finn got in at the corner for what appeared to be a good score, but he knocked the ball on as he went for the touchdown and the try was disallowed. Dolphin cleared their line from the resulting five metre scrum.

On 12 minutes, play was seemingly going nowhere just inside the Well half when the impressive Murphy at scrumhalf saw a blind side opening and he sent hooker O'Farrell into the gap. After a swift interchange of passes he scooted more or less unchallenged, in for a well worked try.

Dolphin realised this was the time to press their advantage home and six minutes later after a spell of concerted pressure, Eddie Knowles part of a well organised front row trio sold an outrageous dummy five metres out and crashed over for another try.

Dolphin had worked the ball neatly from one side of the pitch to the other and back again, stretching the home defence to breaking point and Knowles intelligence did the rest. O'Mahony converted and Dolphin led 21-8.

O'Mahony kicked another penalty two minutes later and the contest was effectively over.

It was a long final quarter for the 'Well and while they made strenuous efforts to crack Dolphin, they could not get the score they needed until the 40th minute when Sean Keenan scorched in. By then it was too late.

Dolphin now need to maintain confidence levels and to continue to play to their obvious strengths if they are to continue to push for promotion.

For the Well, it is obviously frustrating to have played reasonably well yet again and come away with nothing but they do need a win soon.

SUNDAY'S WELL: A Finn; D Power, C Healy, C Korff, S Keenan; R Daly, E Hogan O'Connell; P Sisk, B Kidd, A O'Donovan; M Murphy, I Carroll; D Coppinger, G Finn, S Farrell (capt). Subs: F Whelan for Kidd, D Ryan for Murphy, S Kilroy for Sisk and M Smith for Hogan O'Connell.

DOLPHIN: M Pettman; D Keeshan, B O'Neill, M Manning, L Twomey; J O'Mahony, K Murphy; J O'Sullivan; D O'Farrell, E Knowles; D Pomeroy (capt), R McGrath, S Madigan, D Murphy, J Coughlan.

Ref: D Tyndall (Leinster).