Malone suffer a second half collapse and Blackrock win by 25-32

Malone hosted Blackrock last Saturday, both sides currently in the bottom 3 of the league table with only a single point separating them. Both sides needed a win it it was all to play for.

The opening first quarter saw both sides show plenty of endeavour an exchange of penalties on 8 and 14 minutes saw the game all square at 3-3. Rudolph Benade scoring for Malone and Rob Keogh for the visitors.

In the second quarter Malone hit a purple patch, playing with intent and confidence they took the game by the scruff and put the visitors under pressure.

On 20 minutes a Malone line out was well secured and after a sustained period of attacking play the ball was moved wide at pace and winger Taylor Acheson went in at the corner after Michael Barker had committed the last defender. The conversion from Mark Gribben was wide of the mark. Malone ahead by 8-3.

Both sides lifted their games and both had their chances, however last passes going astray and a number of knock ons frustrated both teams. On 36 minutes Malone got their second try of the game again from the initial line out the ball was moved wide and once again Taylor Acheson was on hand to secure his second of the day. Mark Gribben found the target to extend Malone’s lead to 15-3

The visitors were awarded a penalty from the restart but Keogh was wide of the target, the half finished without any further scores.

Malone made the perfect start to the second half when Rudolph Benade scored a penalty to extend the lead to 18-3, the home crowd sensed that this was a very winnable game.

The visitors answered back a couple of minutes later when they moved the ball wide the Malone defensive line was over stretched and Fisher scored in the corner, the try was converted by Keogh, score now 18-10. Malone scored their 3rd try of the game when full back Peter Henderson found himself in space after the ball had been moved wide, Mark Gribben added an excellent conversion to give Malone the lead 25-10.

Malone appeared to be in a great position however the next 15 minutes saw Malone under enormous pressure and the visitors scored 3 tries on 21, 27 and 37 minutes. The first try saw Malone caught sleeping when Rock took a quick tap penalty and ran in unopposed to the line, the subsequent touch line conversion was missed. Score 22-15.

The second try saw Blackrock score after some very weak Malone defending, Keogh added the conversion to leave Malone ahead by 25-22. The visitors could see Malone were not the cohesive side that had contested the opening half and they turned the screw in the last quarter of the half.

During a Malone attack the ball was moved wide but was intercepted a a rock player ran almost the whole length of the pitch before being captured. Rock sensing an upset was on the cards upped their game and they scored from a Malone line out the ball was stolen and number eight Richie Marsh ran in to score their bonus point try. Score 25-27.

Malone’s day just got worse when they had a kick charged down and rock got their 5th try of the day to win the game by 25-32. Malone suffered a similar collapse against Harlequins again after an excellent opening half they failed to maintain their composure, making poor decisions and losing confidence. Malone are a better team than this performance indicates, however some inspiration and self belief needs to be found and found quickly.

Next week were away to bottom of the table Dublin University, Malone will need to get something from this game they need to show they can operate effectively for the full 80 minutes.