THE eerie indifference of the crowd at this All Ireland League division one basement battle told the story at Stradbrook on Saturday. Even the players appeared only mildly more interested in the onfield happenings.
For all that, there were six tries with Blackrock outscoring Instonians four to two. Admittedly, they were conceived in the face of severe defensive lethargy and celebrated in near silence, save for a rare effort from veteran second row Mick O'Neill who galloped over from 15 metres to the delight of the sparse crowd.
As Blackrock coach Tony Smeeth put it: "There was no pressure on either side and really they were two poor teams playing out the season. As regards next year, we hope to recruit new players."
Blackrock had a definite edge at scrummage with Paul Wallace, Shane Byrne and the rejuvenated Paul Flavin turning the screw on a troubled Instonians front row.
Blackrock will be happy to see the back of this season. They have not been blessed with the greatest fortune as their lack of strength in depth has been exposed.
Opposing out-halfs John MeGowan and Kevin Gartside, swapped early penalties before hooker Andy Adair was credited with a 19th minute try, when it seemed the entire Instonians team was involved in a maul from a tap penalty taken near the Blackrock line. Indeed, the losers used this ploy throughout the game to great profit. Back came the Stradbrook outfit, however, for Rory Rogers to score after Dean Oswald's adroit pick and drive from the base of a five metre scrum. Both McGowan and Gartside kicked the conversions.
Then O'Neill interjected, waltzing through a gazing Instonians defence in a style to which he is not accustomed.
A further MeGowan kick preceded a well worked Instonians touchdown with prop Robbie Irvine crossing the line out wide following another tap penalty maul. Soon after, international prop Paul Wallace made a telling burst in open play to set up centre Donie Connolly for his unconverted contribution.
McGowan quickly slotted a 70th minute penalty to give his side a 29-18 cushion. But all was not lost for Instonians and flanker Keith Parker's try gave them renewed hope. Yet, it was not to be as Alain Rolland dived on to the ball behind the losers' line after an Instonians put-in to a backpeddling scrum.
