Malone put on a scintillating performance as they comprehensively defeated Galwegians by 70-15

Match report courtesy of George Millar

Head coach Paddy Armstrong was far from happy with the squads performance in their narrow win at Cashel. Two lengthy sessions on Tuesday and Thursday night were devoted to improving the set scrum. Injuries along with player unavailability ruled out backs Jack Owens, Rory Campbell, Callum Smith and Connor Spence along with forwards Dave Cave, Michael Shiels, Chris Griffiths and Scott Finlay. Changes resulted in Josh Pentland, Mark O'Connor and Andy Bryan's coming into the backline with Matthew Dalton making his first start in the second row. Bench replacements brought in Lee Barlow, Max Porter, Callum Harkin and David Irvine.

Malone are traditionally renowned as slow starters. The opening minutes of this match were dominated by the Malone forwards and backs, enabling the players to get their hands on the ball. An early penalty was converted by Mark O'Connor with out half Josh Pentland scything his way through The Galwegians defence. Tight head prop Peter Cooper was on his shoulder to take the pass and touch down with O'Connor adding the points to give his side an early 10 - 0 lead after five minutes. Galwegians made the mistake of going offside at the kick off handing possession to the home side. With the hard work put in on the set piece the Malone forwards won a penalty. Again O'Connor stepped up and confidently sent the 48 metre penalty through the posts. The visitors were struggling to contain a rampant Malone team playing with a confidence and accuracy not witnessed at Gibson Park for several seasons.

Further tries came with centre Nathan Brown making the decisive break for winger David McMaster to touch down with O'Connor adding the points and converting a further penalty to increase their lead to 23 - 0 after 17 mins. Minutes later Captain Ross Todd made the initial break for hard working second row Josh Davidson to touch down with O'Connor adding the points. It was sparkling entertaining rugby with out half Josh Pentland turning in a vintage performance as he unleashed wave after wave off attacks on the shell shocked Galwegians team.

Malone did allow Galwegians to exert several minutes of pressure. Their second row made a break for their scrum half to score an unconverted try and reduce the Malone lead to 30 - 5. What had been particularly pleasing for watching Head coach Paddy Armstrong was the power displayed by the Malone scrum with Joe Dunleavy disrupting the Galwegians lineout.
Both centres Nathan Brown and Michael Cartmill were causing all sorts of problems with their line breaks. It was no surprise when these two combined to allow Cartmill to score the all important bonus point try with O'Connor adding the points to increase the Malone lead to 37 - 5 at halftime.

We expected a reaction from Galwegians in the second half as they exerted early pressure with the work of Brown and Cartmill denying them any field position. The 5th Malone try arrived with second row Matthew Dalton showing his pace and power to storm in from 30 metres for a well deserved try, converted by O'Connor. Malone showed their edge and following the exchange of 'handbags' the referee sent one player from each team to sin bin for 10 mins.
Prop Peter Cooper once again showed his pace as he stormed in from 25 metres for his second try with O'Connor again adding the points. There was no let up in the Malone play as Dalton again led the charge with Brown and Cartmill combining for Cartmill to score his second try with O'Connor converting to increase the Malone lead to 58 - 5.

Malone made several changes with Lee Barlow, Callum Harkin, David Irvine and Max Porter joining the action.

Galwegians used their line out to build pressure on the Malone line with prop Martin Fox touching down for an unconverted try. With several new combinations it did not take long for this Malone team to score their 8th try. Not unsurprisingly it was prop Peter Cooper who scored his third try powering in from 30 metres for O'Connor to convert. The final Malone try came for the outstanding Nathan Brown who once again powered through the Galwegians cover for a richly deserved try. O'Connor on this occasion watched his kick drift across the post to increase the Malone lead to 70 - 10.

All credit to the Galwegians team they kept playing and scored their third try through Richard Fahy after again building pressure on the Malone line from a series of lineouts following Malone indiscipline. With time running out the Connacht side sensed a losing bonus point for scoring four tries. It was not to be as Malone closed out the game to win convincingly by 70 - 15.

What can you say about this performance it was clinical and ruthless in the extreme. Captain Ross Todd is developing his leadership qualities from having the presence of Ulster Captain Chris Henry at training and on the touchline.
Malone have benefited from the Ulster Academy players Peter Cooper, Matthew Dalton and Joe Dunleavy in the forwards. All three made a massive contribution to this performance. Despite the absence of Ulster players Callum Smith,Jack Owens and prolific points scorer Rory Campbell in came quality players such as Andy Bryan's, Mark O'Connor and Josh Pentland to keep this well oiled backline functioning.

How do you pick a MOM. Peter Cooper three tries. Matthew Dalton powerful performance along with a dynamic display from Captain Ross Todd and Joe Dunleavy. There are the club players like second row Josh Davidson, Ben Halliday, Dan Kerr, Scott Finlay and Lee Barlow who have tightened up the front row.

The backline continue to play a brand of exciting running rugby. One thing I have noticed this season talking to the players is the work being put in by them individually to improve their fitness levels. Scrum half Shane Kelly has continued to impress with centres Nathan Brown and Michael Cartmill exciting supporters with their running lines. David McMaster is developing and was delighted to score his first try.

The benefit for the 1st xv is the depth in strength within the playing squad. The seconds have progressed to the quarter finals of the Junior Cup and despite the unavailability of several players won their Conference league against PSNI 46 - 18.

Winger Mark O'Connor put in an impressive display of kicking converting 11/12 to back up the reliable Rory Campbell.

My MOM would have to go to prop Peter Cooper who scored three tries. When was the last occasion we watched a prop score three tries. Any winger would have been impressed by his scores.

The playing squad have a three week break from UBL action before they play Blackrock College away on the 28th October. Again the Dublin side upset the form book yesterday defeating Armagh at Stradbrook. There are no easy games in this league. Malone sit top of Division 2A with four wins from four. Still 14 games to be played. Everyone a Cup Final if they want to secure promotion in the clubs 125th Anniversary season.

Next week the 1st xv play Dungannon in the quarter finals of the First Trust Senior Cup at Gibson Park. The coach will continue to rotate his squad with a number of players carrying knocks.

Malone 1st xv v Galwegians: 1. Ben Halliday, 2. Dan Kerr, 3. Peter Cooper, 4. Matthew Dalton, 5. Josh Davidson, 6. Joe Dunleavy, 7. Ross Todd (Captain), 8. Ryan Clarke, 9. Shane Kelly, 10. Josh Pentland, 11. David McMaster, 12. Nathan Brown, 13. Michael Cartmill, 14. Mark O'Connor, 15. Andy Bryan's, 16. Scott Finlay, 17. Lee Barlow, 18. Max Porter, 19. Callum Harkin, 20. David Irvine.