Monkstown 0 Lansdowne 32 , Sydney Parade. 13/12/2008

Gant's needs kicking practice!

"I love it when a plan comes together" was what the guy from the A team with the cigar used to say, and perhaps Saturday's match against Monkstown was the game when the Killer Bees quit their jibber jabber and started playing the rugby they are capable of.

On a crisp sunny December morning the troops got themselves out of their cots and down to Sydney Parade, only to be let down by their late arriving gear, medical kit, water bottles, coach and manager....! In my defence I stopped to pick up Mark!
The Monkstown team had the defeated look of a team who had lost interest in the league, but maintained an admirable defiance for most of the match, despite Lansdowne running 6 past them.
Lansdowne started early with a well worked try. I don't remember it, but I'm sure it was well worked...(a superb individual run down the touchline by young Justin."I remember..." Ed.) And followed up with an opportunistic bobbling ball touchdown by Conor Gahan after some great work by Matt Allen.
The game went a bit stale for a while as both teams tried to get the upper hand, marked with a great lineout performance by big Andy who seemed to be happier with the Monkstown throw in!
Gants kept the 'town back three guessing with some monster boots, along with good line breaks by Justin Comer who impressed throughout.
New boy Andrew Tracey helped himself to a brace in the second half, and the breakfast roll king Eoin Gantly topped off a barnstorming performance with his own try, although he will be dissapointed in a return of 1 from 6 with the tee...
Of particular note was the dreadful volley by Captain Keith "ronaldo" Herman, who was obviously feeling bad about the drubbing Monkstown were getting, and decided to welly the ball back to them.... If ye can kick it, ye can catch it Keith!!!
Finishing off the scoring was Jeff Billy Whizz who received the first recorded pass ever from Big Kev! Although the big man made a great impact off the bench... Other notable performances from Rob Moore, who is settling in to the team well, Gabriel Portier and man of the match Nick Jones, who was at the heart of everything good on Saturday. And yes Matt, we did see that inside pass!! One must also be delighted by a sterling performance of Mr William Sparks. A man of many tallents, surely has now found his place in the Killer Bees front row. Not one scrum lost against the head. Marvelous!
The team then descended on RDS to support our 1sts in a great victory over Ballygobackwards in the AIL. Many thanks to Ross Bloomfield for translating on the day, and then the crack squadron of elite drinkers made their way to part one of the 12 pubs of Christmas. At time of writing, I have not heard if Millan Alonso is still alive, or if Andy paid for a drink, but I have no doubt fun was had.
2009 is around the corner, and we need to hit the ground at full tilt, but until then, on behalf of the legendery Lansdowne Killer Beez management, we wish one and all a happy, peaceful and fun Christmas. May your drinks be cold and yer turkey hot. Ho ho ho!!!

Man of the Match: Nick Jones

written by Philip McGoldrick

match photos taken by Ed Bruce

Team

1: Peter Geoghegan 2: Jan Falko 3: Gabriel Portier 4: Robert Moore 5: Andy Fleming 6: Andrew Tracey 7: Coner Gahan 8: Nick Jones 9: Matt Allen 10: Eoin Gantly 11: Justin Comer 12: Ross Bloomfield 13: Tomas Keys 14: Rory Gavin 15: Keith Herman Subs: Will Sparks, Thomas Malone, Millan Alonso, Jeff Iszeham and Kevin McDermot.