OLD WESLEY, the holders and three times winners of the competition, embellished their great record in the Smithwick's Old Belvedere Floodlit Cup at Anglesea Road last night when they defeated Clontarf in the semi-final by 19 points to 14.
Wesley will contest the final of the Cup for the seventh time when they meet Greystones next Tuesday night. While Clontarf will rue lost opportunities, notably from penalty kicks, Old Wesley revealed their capacity yet again for producing the goods when they were most required. They also showed a commendable ability to take their scoring opportunities.
A 3-0 interval lead did little justice to Clontarf's first-half superiority - especially up front. It was a night that Clontarf's accomplished out-half Mark Woods will want to put behind him quickly. In the first half, he managed only one successful penalty kick from seven attempts, as Old Wesley were forced into the concession of penalties as Clontarf applied consistent pressure. Clontarf also lost one fine, try-scoring opportunity.
Seven minutes into the second half, Old Wesley took the lead when Greg Duffy forced his way over in the left corner for a try. Then, eight minutes later, Old Wesley struck again in spectacular fashion. Clontarf, never lacking in their willingness to attack, moved the ball out to the right, but Ronan Browne intercepted inside his own 22 and sprinted down the left touchline for an invaluable try. Niall Farren missed the conversion, but Old Wesley led 10-3.
Woods, having missed one two minutes earlier, eventually found the range with a penalty in the 59th minute. After Farren kicked a penalty to put Old Wesley 13-6 in front, Woods was again on target to make it 13-9. It also set the scene for a hectic finish.
However, Farren yet again stretched Old Wesley's lead to that crucial seven-points mark with a penalty in the 7th minute. Clontarf's reply was a fine try from centre Matt Smith, and Woods had the chance to level the scores with the conversion but it drifted wide.
A success rate of three from 10 attempts was something Clontarf could ill-afford and Old Wesley held a precious two points lead as the match moved into injury-time. Adrian Hawe then dropped a goal to give Old Wesley a rather flattering, five-points winning margin.
Transvaal's Springbok hooker James Dalton lost his appeal against a two match ban for foul play and was warned his suspension was less than what should have been appropriate. Dalton was cited for an incident following a lineout in the second half of the New South Wales-Transvaal Super 12 match in Sydney last Friday, which New South Wales won 32-11.
The Australian Rugby Union Appeals Tribunal labelled Dalton's kicking of NSW hooker Mark Bell as "dangerous and inexcusable" and said it had no doubt the Springbok forward was guilty of foul play. It also expressed misgivings at the length of the ban imposed by the judicial committee following its five-hour hearing last Sunday.
Dalton is the first player to be cited and punished in the expanded Super 12 inter-provincial tournament.
