Ten-Try Swords Blitz Arklow in First League Win

October 11th, 2009

Swords 64 Arklow 6

A NINE-TRY second-half blitz saw Swords romp home at ALSAA on Sunday, while sending out a serious statement of intent to their rivals in pool 2 of the Leinster League Division 3. The Greens bagged 10 tries in total, with winger Dave Gallagher picking up a hat-trick in their first win of the league campaign.

An assured display from young outhalf Mattie O'Reilly kept the scoreboard ticking over and there were further tries for Mick Finglas (two), Ross McBride (two), Loic Guyomarc'h, Juris Beikmanis and captain Mal Bradley. Incidentally, Swords trailed 6-5 at the interval, but should have been in front. Twice they dropped the ball in try-scoring positions and failed to add to Finglas' early score.

Whatever coach Chris Keane said at half-time certainly did the trick as the hosts clicked into gear, buoyed by the wind at their backs. They also had to contend with McBride spending 10 minutes in the sin bin, though a dominant forwards display, where number 8 Shane Mulligan particularly stood out, gave the Fingal side a solid platform to set their backs free.

And they duly delivered as five of the backline got on the scoresheet in the end. Not even the presence of former Leinster hooker, Shane Byrne, could lift Arklow and instead it was the current provincial star's side who shone. ‘It was a great team performance,' Keane told the Fingal Independent. ‘I told the lads to go out and enjoy themselves and I think the scoreboard reflected that. ‘It was huge performance from last week, but there is still a lot to work on. They are beginning to believe in themselves, which is very important too.'

With 20 tries scored in their last three games, Swords will look to build on their current scoring streak when they travel to CYM next Sunday, October 18th.

SWORDS RFC: A. Flaherty; D. Gallagher, L. Guyomarc'h, R. McBride, J. Beikmanis; M. O'Reilly, D. Moore; J. Condron, M. Bradley (c), E. O'Donnell; M. Corbett, A. McLoughlin; F. Coll, M. Finglas, S. Mulligan. Subs: A. Zvidris, D. Grogan, A. Richmond, C. Greenan, A. Forkan.