Mallow RFC played host to Cobh Pirates in the Munster Junior 2 league last Sunday on what was a crisp dry November afternoon at a packed Parkadallane. In search of their 5th league win in 5 games, Mallow played up the hill and against the breeze for the opening forty. Cobh were physical up front and really went at the home side during the early stages of the game. Mallow settled themselves however and David Breen knocked over an early penalty. Cobh responded quickly with a try thanks to a well worked line-out maul to put them 5-3 ahead with 20 minutes played. Mallow had their work cut out playing against the elements and a size-able Cobh pack. Scrum-half Ronan McCarthy organised the home side very effectively and box kicked with pin-point accuracy time and time again throughout the first half. Mallow scored a try of their own on the half hour mark. Their scrum on the 22m line provided a perfect platform for the set piece move that followed. From the base of the scrum, McCarthy swept a pass out to Mike Sweeney who ran a searing line through the heart of the Cobh defence to race past the covering tacklers and dot down under the posts. Mallow went into half time with a 10-5 lead and work to do.

In the second half, Mallow demonstrated a steely determination and attacked Cobh right from the outset. Playing with the elements in their favour, Mallow put themselves in excellent field positions and kept Cobh pinned inside their own 22m line. This pressure was telling as Jimmy Glynn scored Mallow's second try. Outstanding pick & go's from the pack sucked in the Cobh defence and thanks to excellent hands from the backs Mallow crossed the whitewash out wide. Excellent carries from forwards Hannon, Keena and Fitzgerald ensured Mallow continued to get front foot ball and positive gain line success. Brian Henry was next to get over the line, scoring a try which really put Mallow on the front foot and helped build momentum. A solid scrum platform saw Mike Lenihan carry strongly off the back. McCarthy popped a pass to Henry who steamrolled over the line evading 2 attempted tackles on his way. Brimming with confidence at this stage of the game, Mallow went in search of their bonus point try and it wasn't long coming. A well worked intelligent short line-out play involving Sean Glynn and Lenihan saw Mallow set up a ruck 7m out from the try line. Tysone Stephens, standing at first receiver carried well into the contact, turned and offloaded to Owen Glynn who bulldozed over bringing with him 2 Pirates defenders. Brian Henry rounded off the scoring with an excellent team try. John Connaughton made a break up the line. Phase after phase saw the home side pressurise the Cobh defensive effort. Excellent hands out wide allowed Henry to score unopposed with Glynn adding the conversion. The game finished 33-5 to the home side and keeps their home record in tact. Sunday's game was the 1st of a block of four consecutive league games before Christmas.

Up next for Mallow is an away fixture against Ballincollig on Sunday 25th where they will look to solidify their position at the top of the table before a titanic clash against Clonakilty on December 2nd.