Cats have the luck of the Irish!

Cats kicked off to start the first half and the ball was immediately won by Lewis as pressure was put on the Irish receiver. The ball was driven on by the forwards before Rory spun it wide from the ensuing ruck. The backs passed the ball quickly down the line to Jack who ran strongly before cutting back inside 3 Irish defenders to dot down for a good score, unconverted. Cats 5 – 0 Irish. Irish kick off and it is well taken by Dan O who charges downfield into Irish territory. The ball is lost in the tackle area but reclaimed following good work by the forwards and passed out to Will Mac on the short side who sprints round his marker and scores in the corner, unconverted. Cats 10 – 0 Irish. From the kick-odd Irish attack only to lose the ball due to good rucking over by Cats. Will Mac takes the ball on before passing to Aaron who makes ground into the Irish half before offloading in the tackle to Lewis who finishes strongly for a good try, unconverted. Cats 15 – 0 Irish. Irish attack from the kick off and win a scrum in Cats 22. One against the head for Toby and out to the backs who are held up by the Irish midfield defence. From the ensuing ruck George powers through the middle and charges up field. Offloads to Lewis who is tackled just short of the line by desperate Irish defence however Rory backs up well and even though he is tackled again just short, Jamie is to hand to finish the move off with a good team try, unconverted. Cats 20 – 0 Irish. Again Irish attack from the kick off and following a scrum win a penalty. Cats defence tested but holds and the ball is cleared for a lineout on Cats 22. Irish throw but well won by Cats and the ball is passed quickly along the back line to Will Mac who runs strongly to score in the corner, unconverted. Cats 25 -0 Irish. Cats relax and pay the price as Irish come back strongly, winning several phases before crossing close to the uprights, converted. At half time the score is Cats 25 – 7 Irish.

Irish kick off to get the second half underway and claimed well by Cats. After some good work by the forwards in working the ball down field it once again finds itself in Will Mac’s hands and once again he crosses for a good team try, unconverted. Cats 30 – 7 Irish. Irish are not taking this lying down and following sustained pressure on the Cats line Irish cross for another score, converted to give Cats 30 – 14 Irish. Cats were stung by the Irish response and the forwards started a drive with George prominent before Rory attacks the short side and scores in the corner, unconverted. Cats 35 – 14 Irish. From the kick off Gordon fields the ball well and passes to Tom who throws the dummy, runs into space and sprints through the defence to score under the posts, converted by Rory. Cats 42 – 14 Irish. This time Tom takes the ball from the kick off and kicks into space behind the Irish backs who scramble back and put the ball out on their 22. Good interplay from both backs and forwards eventually see Conor score wide out, unconverted. Cats 47 – 14 Irish. Following some toing and froing in midfield Cats win a scrum and the ball is passed quickly out to Will Mac who scores in the corner, unconverted. Cats 52 – 14 Irish. Last play of the game, strong work by the Cats forwards see them reclaim the ball from Irish and almost inevitably the ball finds itself in Will Mac’s hands and he strolls over for the last score of the game, unconverted. Final score Cats 57 -14 Irish.

This was an excellent team performance from Cats where every player contributed and they can all hold their heads up following the match.