Swords Seasons Ends in Defeat in Provincial Towns Plate

Newbridge 33 Swords 19

NEWBRIDGE coach Bernard Jackman looked a forlorn figure as he reflected on Leinster's exit from the Heineken Cup the previous day. The provincial hooker could share a thought or two with Swords RFC, who looked back on a mixed season of their own following their Towns Plate defeat.

Not so long ago, the men in Green were the only side in the division to defeat the Kildare men, as Newbridge clinched promotion to the second tier of the Leinster League. Swords came agonisingly close to joining them back then, but remain in Division 3, though after a season of transition it will be next term that their mettle is ultimately tested.

In spite of various disappointments along the way, Swords displayed a confidence and vigour on Sunday that had arguably been missing throughout the rest of the season. Certainly the performance of fullback Dave Cahill - who provided every one of Swords' 19 points - deserved more than the final outcome. Devoid of the bulk of their first XV, Swords soon found themselves two tries down in the opening minutes, with the Newbridge pack twice driving over from close range.

Cahill stopped the rot with a fine penalty from 40 metres soon after and soon crossed for a superb try, which had as much to do with individual flair as it had with the hard grunt up front. Defending a scrum, the ball squeezed out on the visitor's side and was picked by flanker Mossie Merrigan. The seven went blind and chipped over the winger's head.

Covering back, Newbridge looked to clear, but a ferocious double hit from Mike Finnegan and Loic Guyomarch turned possession over and the ball was fed to Cahill who beat two defenders with style to ground under the posts. His conversion left Swords trailing by just a point (14-13) at the interval and gave them a real chance in the second half.

Swords made the most of the strong wind in the second period, with Finnegan pinging the hosts back in their 22 with some fine kicks out of hand.
Newbridge always looked dangerous on the break however, and a turnover in their own half let the home side in for a try in the corner.
Gradually they wore the green defence down and though Cahill kept Swords in touch with two further penalties, two more tries eased the Midlands men home.

The standard of performance, particularly from Cahill, Guyomarch and second row Jamie Gormly, was bittersweet to say the least. Sure, there is at least a strong platform to build on going into the 2007-08 campaign, but what different an outcome could this season produced had this type of effort gone in throughout? Either way, with a tour to Spain and a busy pre-season beckoning, it won't be long until a fresh assault on success gets underway - something both Swords and Jackman can take heart in.

SWORDS RFC: D. Cahill; O. McDonnell, L. Guyomarch, J. Julian, I. Ian ; M. Finnegan, M. Child (c); E. Flannery, K. Corcoran, E. O'Griofa; D. Brennan, J. Gormly; P. Jones, M. Merrigan, E. O'Donnell.