Home side Lansdowne put on a clinical performance in scoring six unanswered tries against an undermanned Suffolk on Saturday. Number eight Chris O'Connor opened the scoring in minute 14 as he tore out of ruck and bulled in from 12 meters out. Just three minutes later Joe Giordano made an impressive break upfield and offloaded to Chris O'Connor who, in turn, link up with Marcus McAlinden. Out half McAlinden found Ciaran McHenry, who promptly galloped in from 40 meters out. The Sennin Flanagan conversion gave the Irishman a 12 point advantage.
In minute 31 playmaking out half Marcus McAlinden beautifully offloaded to the advancing Blake Mannion. Center Mannion continued his torrid try scoring run by powering in from 10 meters out. Sennin Flanagan's conversion give Lansdowne a 19 point lead. Six minutes later, Brian Singleton ripped the ball out of a ruck and found Chris O'Connor in some open space off to his right. O'Connor slammed down for his second try of the match.
The second half opened with Lansdowne stifling Suffolk's attack due to a monstrous effort on the part of Man of the Match flanker Chris Higgins. In minute 48 Blake Mannion had an impressive break upfield. He offloaded to the supporting Austin Purcell. Center Purcell zipped a pass out to Brian Fingleton, who touched down under the posts.
The action slowed for a while as each team seem to be affected by the heat. But in minute 77 prop Ciaran Byrne gobbled up a loose ball out of a ruck and promptly slammed down. Sennin Flanagan converted and then, minutes later, slotted a penalty to finalize the score.
The B match saw Lansdowne come out on top by 17-10. Suffolk opened the scoring in the third minute as their winger impressively flew into the in goal from midfield. In minute six Mike Poplaski made an impressive break downfield. Out of a ruck, Will Horgan found space and passed out to Paul Antezzo. Scrumhalf Antezzo galloped under the posts for Lansdowne's first score. In minute 15 Manus O'Sullivan grabbed the ball out of a ruck and touched down. Gerry Power's conversion gave Lansdowne the lead by seven. In minute 25 Michael Poplaski ripped the ball of a ruck and passed to John Giordano. Fullback Giordano weaved through a couple of defenders and touched down. Suffolk closed the scoring with an injury time try in the corner. Lansdowne's Man of the Match was EJ Brutus whose suffocating defense kept Suffolk's back line at bay.
Lansdowne practices are held every Monday and Wednesday at 8:00 PM in Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers. All interested players should come on down or contact the club at any of the following: website www.lansdownerugbyclub.com email [email protected] or phone hotline (914)297-8429. Next up for Lansdowne is a home game against Rockaway on September 14.
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