Scoring
Q1
6-0 Rhinos: Ross Carrick, reception from Steven macken. PAT wide.
Q2
13-0 Rhinos: Barry Bolton, fumble recovery in endzone. PAT good (Sean Power).
Q4
13-8 Saints: Dave McMahon, run. 2 PAT good (Dave McMahon).
15-8 Rhinos: Safety.
Game Photos
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Game Report
Game Report by the West Dublin Rhinos:
An outstanding defensive performance coupled with some big plays on the offense saw the West Dublin Rhinos pick up their second win of the season.
The Rhinos received the ball and immediately began to move the ball on the Saints’ Defense. Quarterback Stephen Macken linked up with his talented receivers as they drove down the field. Running back Sean Power put in some important runs to set up a field goal attempt. It was Power himself who would take the shot but his attempt missed wide of the upright.
The Saints took over possession deep in their own half and the Rhinos’ defense swarmed their Quarterback at every opportunity.
With the immense pressure from the defense the Saints failed to get near the goal line on the opening drive and were forced to punt, but after a botched snap was recovered by the Rhinos, Macken took back over possession with good field position. Ross Carrick made a big catch to pick up a first down. Power once more made yards on the ground thanks to a huge block by receiver Stevie Moon. The block shook DCU to the core and was sure to have been felt at the nearby Trinity College sports grounds where Trinity hosted the Belfast Trojans.
Once in the redzone Macken and co. were not going to come away pointless and the young quarterback found Carrick for the opening touchdown of the game. Power missed the extra point which gave the Rhinos a six point lead over their bitter rivals.
The defense remained relentless and put massive pressure on the Saints who couldn’t manage to get any momentum going. The Rhinos second touchdown came as a direct result of that pressure when Oisin Russell-Conway penetrated the Saints’ line and got his hands on the quarterback who panicked and flung the ball towards his own endzone. David O’Connor and Barry Bolton pounced on the opportunity with Bolton smothering the ball for the first touchdown of his career. Power added the extra point before the half to send the visitors in with a 13-0 lead.
Rhinos’ Head Coach Mark Lawless emphasised the fact that the Saints would come out all guns blazing and they did just that with running back David McMahon causing problems on the ground. The Saints made it into the Rhinos’ ten yard line and pulled off a reverse which saw them cross over for six points. They then went for two points where McMahon squeezed in at the corner to pull his side within one score of a victory. Déjà vu was nearly setting in for the Rhinos after they had led by two scores in the same fixture last year only to lose the game. However, the defense stood strong and got the ball back for the offense who kept pushing for the win.
Deep in the fourth quarter the Rhinos’ defense pulled off another master stroke when the Saints fumbled the ball in their endzone and were forced to dive on the ball giving up a safety. This brought the score to 15-8 in the Rhinos favour. There was still time on the clock when the Saints recovered the ball from the ever impressive offense. Saints quarterback Scott Mifsud had no choice other than to air it out and that’s when veteran linebacker Nick Newby sealed another win for the Rhinos with a vital interception.
This win keeps the Rhinos in touching distance of division leaders, the Dublin Rebels, and sets up a scintillating fixture in two weeks time when the Rhinos host the Saints in Castleknock College.