Mullingar Mavericks open Mullingar RFC's new development

Cullion aglow as floodlights switched on Mullingar Under 21s got the great honour of being the first team to play under lights in Mullingar RFC.They did their club proud with a convincing hard fought win by 24 points to 16 against a very strong Portarlington team.Mullingar started the game slow with the pressure of the big occasion obviously unnerving them and they allowed the very large Portarlington pack get on top of them and push them and bully them around the field for the first 15 minutes. However it was Mullingar who scored first with a very well taken penalty from the reliable Stuart Flynn after a great move that involved all the back line of Alan Brabazon, Stuart Flynn, Robert Allen, Kevin Pyke, James Neale and Gareth Flowers. It was hoped this 3 nil lead would settle Mullingar but as has been happening of late we conceded a try directly from a mistake at restart time and we allowed Portarlington to take the lead 5 points to 3.Mullingar were still flat and our lineout and our rucking was suspect and Port were in charge mostly in these areas but on our own scrum we were strong and our hooker Greg Berry, took three balls against the head in the game which was top class. The next score came Mullingar's way when Man of the Match Daragh Daly came flying onto a Portarlington move to intercept and go under the posts for what can only be described as individual brilliance in timing and clever rugby.Stuart Flynn converted and Mullingar were 10 points to 5 up and looked like this now was the time Mullingar would take the game by the scruff of the neck but alas the same old problem occurred when from the restart Portarlington turned over the ball and from crash ball they went over in the corner for their second try. With the score 10 points all Mullingar new they were going to have to earn this win and knuckle down and start working for each other.Our front row of Ethan Connolly, Greg Berry and Mark Reilly were holding their own but not making the hard yards around the fringes the second row of John Hughes and Robert Bourke were equally shell shocked and found their opponents hard to handle. Our back row of Adam Karroum, Patrick Simpkin and Daragh Daly were getting around the field very well but were not making ground like they normally do. Portarlington went on to get 1 more penalty before half time to leave the score 13 points to 10 in favour of the visitors.Half time allowed the coaches Peter Leahy and David Walls make a few changes both in personnel and in attitude and tactics bringing Philip Butler in on the wing and instructions to swing everything as wide as possible and to move away from the big pack of Port.The second half started and it was like a different Mullingar team came onto the field with David Butler our Captain barking at the pack for quick ball and with Alan Brabazon and Stuart Flynn dominating the midfield we spread the ball at every opportunity with both Philip Butler and James Neale on the other wing seeing lots of ball.A move worked on hard in training paid off for the next score. For two years Stuart Flynn has been practising a cross field kick with Daragh Daly loitering on the wing and the opportunity came in this match for just that. Well called by Daly and an excellent pin point kick from Flynn saw Daly soar up over the Portarlington wing to grab the ball, bring it down and run in an excellent try. Again Stuart Flynn converted to leave the score 17 points to 13.Once again we made a mess of the restart and Port got a penalty to get the scores back to 17 points to 16 in favour of the home side but this very young Mullingar side were not going to allow themselves be beaten on their new home pitch under lights so again they upped their game. Simpkin, Hughes Daly, Karroum and Reilly were dominating now in the pack and the introduction of Dan Kenny and Eoin McCormack into the pack added some bite also. David Butler was all over his opposite number and was totally in charge and this made all the difference to the back line. David Butler delivered perfect ball to the very impressive Alan Brabazon and Stuart Flynn calling the shots in midfield left Portarlington worried where the next attack was coming from. Mullingar made a very good move through the forwards into the Portarlington half and with a great quick ball and a double skip move put the very good running Gareth Flowers into the gap. Gareth had still loads to do but ran it in from the 22 for Mullingar's third try which Stuart Flynn converted again leaving the score 24 points to 16 in Mullingar's favour.Mullingar were in total charge and with Damien Moran coming in on the wing for last 20 minutes and Conor Murphy in the centre Mullingar shut up shop and no way through for Port. Mullingar had a few more penalties in easy reach for Stuart Flynn but refused to kick them for points as they wanted to get the 4th try and get the bonus point. The fourth try should have come if Frank Wallace had made the dead ball line just 3 inches longer. Daragh Daly once again showing his footballing ability hacking through after a Portarlington fumble but the ball ran inch over the dead ball line as Daly dived for it hitting the barrier and having to come off the field in doing so. Christopher Coyne came on in the pack with a few minutes left and the last 2 subs Stephen Woods and Blaine Healy were not needed on the night but it's a long season and all the squad will be needed along the way.The game finished off with Mullingar still on attack and the fact that Portarlington were only in Mullingar's 22 once in second half showed the character of these young men. The Final score Mullingar 24 Portarlington 16 and it's great to see results like this from this seriously talented young side considering they haven't gelled as they can do yet but each week its getting a little better.It was a fantastic honour to open proceedings and put in a performance for the large crowd and it was very pleasing that we got to see this very nice Mullingar Mavericks new jersey which goes back to the hoops in a modern design. It was a great night all around and fabulous to see a huge performance from Mullingar first 15 as well who were really charged up on the night too so well done Ray, Jeff, Mick and Niall you did yourself proud the venue proud and our club proud' Come on the 'Gar.Next Saturday night, November 14, Mullingar Under 21s are back under lights for a home game against Tullow which will be a very big game as Tullow are second in the table and are a very big physical side so lads training Friday night means a lot more work that we need to cover and hope we can step up to another winning performance.