The unpredictability of rugby and the attitude of the thirty players on the pitch will determine what playing action we the supporters and spectators will witness. We don't deny the work ethic of the coaches and players in training as they make preparations for their next match.

What we witnessed at Gibson Park yesterday fell below the standard we expect in the All Ireland league. The term winning 'ugly' was one way to describe the manner in which Malone held on to win this match. Basic fundamental handling errors and poor game management denied the players a bonus point win. There is much work to be done to sort out a malfunctioning line out. A dominant Malone scrum was repeatedly penalised by referee Jonny Erskine. Interpretation of scrummaging laws confuses both players and spectators where we witness the dominant pack being penalised to the advantage of the weaker opposition.

Nevertheless the first half action was confined to three excellent penalties kicked by Corinthians - Auckland out half James Proctor and Malone full back Mark O'Connor to leave the Galway side leading 9 - 3. Corinthians may have felt they should have had a bigger advantage when they crossed the Malone try line twice in the opening ten minutes only for stubborn home defence holding up the ball and preventing the visitors taking a lead. Malone lost their dynamic hooker Dave Cave to a serious leg injury after twenty minutes to be replaced by Daryl Maxwell. Corinthians were reduced to fourteen players coming up to HT when their number 7 Ross Mooney was yellow carded for tackling a player without the ball. There was little else else to describe from this mediocre opening forty minutes that was held up for ten minutes due to the injury sustained by Cave.

Whatever was said by the coaches it was the Malone forwards who took hold of the game in the opening twenty minutes of the second half to score seventeen unanswered points. With Malone dominating the breakdown - Corinthians were to lose their number 6 Sean Connolly after eight mins to a red card after Malone scrum half Shane Kelly was forced to leave the pitch with a nasty head injury to be replaced by Jack McMurty. O'Connor converted a penalty with replacement prop Gary Crawford using his bulk to brush aside two defenders and touch down for a try converted by O'Connor to put Malone ahead in the match at 13 - 9. An excellent kick by winger Andy Bryan's took play to within five metres of the Corinthians try line. After a series of dominant scrums Malone secured their second try after the referee was left with no alternative other than to award Malone a penalty try with O'Connor adding the points to give his team a commanding 20 - 8 lead with twenty minutes remaining.

Malone made a number of changes with Adam Liddell replacing Rory Campbell on the wing and Max Porter replacing Ben McDonnell in the back row. The game became very scrappy with injuries holding up play. Any Malone numerical advantage was loss when their back row forward Max Porter was yellow carded with ten minutes remaining. Corinthians then loss their centre Cathal Evans to a serious leg injury. The westerners went in search of a losing bonus point and were rewarded when Malone number 8 Ross Todd was harshly penalised after contesting a ball at the breakdown. They quickly moved the ball from the resulting penalty to their left for winger Dave McDermott to touch down and end this marathon game at 4.20pm after the players took the pitch at 2.30pm.

We have to thank the medical staff from both teams who had to deal with several serious injuries picked up by players during the match. The injury to Dave Cave is not as serious as first thought and the club physio will monitor further knocks also picked up by prop Chris Griffiths, Shane Kelly and Ben McDonnell. The Malone coaches and players will take the four points from this match to secure back to back wins. Much improvement is needed before they face a difficult trip away to play UCC in Cork next Sat. With both Banbridge and Queens losing - Malone sit alongside Naas and Banbridge at the top of the table on ten points. The threat to the ambitions of these Ulster clubs will be posed by Munster clubs Nenagh Ormond, Cashel RFC and Thomond in the coming months.