Swords Fail To Reach The Summit In Wicklow Mountains
Rathdrum 15
Swords 9
A bonus point proved scant consolation for a game which, on another day, Swords should have easily won.
As it was, poor decision making and basic errors cost them three points and left them ruing a wasted trip to Wicklow.
Swords led 9-8 coming  into the closing quarter, but let Rathdrum back in for a soft try, when they should have closed out the game. A pipe band greeted the visitors on the halfway line before kick-off, as the hosts celebrated the opening of their new pitch.
But it was Swords who were rarely in tune, only rarely showing glimpses of their true potential and in truth should have taken more.
Rathdrum led 3-0 through a penalty at half-time, before Swords fullback Dave Cahill levelled proceedings from a place kick of his own.
The Wicklow men then took a dubious lead, when the home touchjudge failed to raise his flag as Rathdrum attacked down the blind with a foot clearly in touch, scoring in the corner.
Swords upped a gear and great work from the pack gave Cahill the penalty shot, which he duly slotted over. The visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game and should have taken the lead, with scrumhalf James Kubran held up inches short, after a darting break from a ruck. More hard work upfront brought another infringement and Cahill duly converted to put Swords in the lead for the first time. But they couldn't close the game out and loose defending gifted Rathdrum the winning score ten minutes from time.
Five points from their opening two games is a fairly healthy return, but Swords know that it is the smaller details that matter, if they are to remain real contenders come the climax of the league campaign.
The Greens next action is a friendly at home to Monkstown on Thursday, before a home tie with Birr on November 4th.
Swords RFC: D. Cahill; R. Kiely, D. Weafer, J. Gormly; L. Guyomarc'h, J. Kubran; E. O'Donnell, F. McKevitt, E. O'Griofa; M. Corbett, F. Coll; M. Bradley, J. Julian, S. Mulligan (c).
Subs used: W. Hill, J. Condron.
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)