UL Bohemians turnover Malone winning by 6-31

Malone played their 3rd Ulster Bank league game of the season hosting Limerick visitors UL Bohemians.

The game wasn’t played in the best of conditions rain and wind caused problems for both sides making ball handling difficult.

The visitors started at a very fast pace and Malone were forced to defend. Bohs spurned an early penalty opportunity when Robbie Burke was wide of the target.

Bohs continued to apply pressure and when a ball was kicked into the Malone 5m area James McKinney's poor clearance kick was charged down by Robbie Burke to managed to ground the ball he added the conversion to give the visitors an early 0-7 lead after 5 minutes.

Malone got on the score sheet on 10 minutes when Bohs were penalised at the scrum and James McKinney knocked over the awarded penalty. 3-7

Malone had a fair share of possession in the opening period and moved the ball at pace along the back line however on many occasions they were unable to retain the ball allowing Bohs to counter attack.

The visitors were dominant at the breakdown, they were hungrier and more aggressive, they extended their lead when centre Mossie Lawlor made a superb break and found himself in an acre of space and ran in unopposed to score, with Burke again adding the conversion. 3-14.
Malone responded but were were unable to cause Bohs much damage as their ball handling let them down.

Malone were suffering at the breakdown with the Bohs forwards securing where are you to many turnovers. Malone missed a penalty opportunity after Bohs were penalised at the scrum. late into the half Bohs won a penalty and opted to kick to the corner, the rain now coming down in torrents saw them catch the throw in and a number of pick and drives from their forwards saw them cross the line despite some fierce defending from Malone. Burke again added the conversion to extend their lead by 3-21, this brought the half to an end.

Malone fared little better in the second half, an early penalty from James McKinney was all they could manage, where as Bohs continued to shower the home side with pressure which resulted in two further unconverted tries from Tim Rafferty and a last gasp effort from Derek Farrell.

This was a poor performance by Malone standards, they suffered at the breakdown conceding to many turn overs, also the usual handling skills were lacking. So the Bohs ran out deserved winners by 6-31 securing a try bonus.

This it has to be said was an uncharacteristic performance from Malone but a hard week lies ahead in training before they travel to Lakelands in Dublin to play League Leaders Terenure next week.

I won't make it work commitments, good luck.