Midleton give lesson in forward power play
On the agenda was a need to reduce the number of penalties. The hope of the unions' lawmakers was to lessen the impact of forwards and turn the game into liberating try-scoring fests akin to what one sees in the Super-12 down-under.
But, more interestingly, in a Munster and Midleton context, was the discussion on scrums, mauls and the "heave" all the primeval elements of the provincial game here that lawmakers want to demystify in favour of entertainment. The scrum and the head-on collision of the packs always typified the basic elements of the union game.
If the IRB proceed in tinkering with rules and a Super-12-type prototype is adopted teams like Midleton will be greatly affected.
The East Cork side thrive on the muscle and brawn of the pack, and because they are limited in attacking options out wide, their game is forward-oriented. But, isn't there more theatre and drama in a 14-13 war of attrition than in an all-singing, all-dancing 45-36 try fest?
At Town's Park last Saturday, no-one personified the greatness of forward play more than skipper Mick Cullinane. Inspirational in all facets of his game, he was hugely impressive and earned the man-of-the-match accolade afterwards.
Table-toppers UL-Bohemians certainly learned a lesson or two about good forward play from third from bottom Midleton. For almost the entire second half, the division's pace-setters were on the back-foot.
"We trained very hard this week and were hugely focused for this game," said Urlich afterwards. "We're near the bottom of the table and a win like today against a side of Ul-Bohs' class injects a lot of confidence into our side. We have three home games coming up and they are against many of the sides struggling near the foot of the table like ourselves."
In fact, Urlich's influence was more than that: coaxing and cajoling his pack going forward, always sniping at the breakdown and, when possible, aiming to get his backs moving.
But it looked like Midleton were facing another uphill struggle early on in the game when Ul-Bohs strolled in for the opening try from winger Mark Touhy. The Limerick side's ability to mix backs and a mobile set of forwards allowed for multiple phase-building and this 3rd minute try certainly woke up the home side.
There were only two more scores in the opening half with Dave Hurley and Cathal Garvey exchanging penalties, leaving it 3-8 at the interval.
On the turnover, Midleton tore into their opponents with a vigour unseen for quite a while and as early as the 6th minute in the second half, had forced UL-Bohs into conceding a penalty which Hurley converted in awkward cross-field wind and rain.
The home side's perseverance paid off with a much-deserved try. After the forwards continued overpowering their counterparts substitute Aaron O'Neill's first touch was taking a beautiful long pass from Brian Morris to touch down in the corner. Hurley missed the conversion but Midleton continued to press and in the 75th minute a twenty yard move by the pack made UL-Boh's infringe at the breakdown and Hurley made it 14-8.
Two minutes later Hamish McCrae was sin-binned before UL-Boh's saw James O'Neill cross for a try in the corner, but Garvey's conversion, kicking into the biting wind, came up short and Midleton celebrated knowing that they are almost safe now from the drop-zone.
Long live the power and the glory of the pack.
D. Hurley; P. Power, E. Tobin, G. Colbert, K. Barry; B. Morris, D. Urlich; P. Smyth, D. Lee, K. Brierly; M. Cullinane (c), Aidan McCarthy; M. O'Connell, S. Buckley, D. Lane. Replacements: Andrew McCarthy for Brierly (inj. 25); A. O'Neill for Tobin (58); G. Lynch for Lane (65); H. McRae (70).
C. Garvey; M. Touhy, K. Matthews, M. McPhail, B. Murphy; P. Treacy, A. Rees; M. Harty, G. Ryan (c), J. Danagher; B. Madigan, A. Hartigan; R. Hartigan, J. E. O'Connor, S. Ryan. Replacements: I. Costello for Danagher (76); J. O'Neill for Murphy (77).
D. Armstrong (UAR).
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