New €400K pitch opened at Clondalkin Rugby Club

CLONDALKIN Rugby Club had the official opening of their new main €400k pitch at the weekend, reports James Ffrench.

They held a family fun day as part of the launch, with kids games, live music and a pre match lunch all taking place.

Aswell as that, Clondalkin’s Senior Men’s firsts took to the new field against Longford in Leinster League Division 2A, where they fell to a 16 10 loss.

Despite the loss it is a historic day for the club, and for the fifteen players who played in the match, as they are the first XV to do so.

Clondalkin stormed out of the traps and scored two tries within the first twenty minutes, through winger Cathal Downey and scrum-half Conor Loughrey.

The domination of the scrum was key to their early success, but it would be short lived.

Longford made a few tactical changes and responded with a couple of tries of their own to win on a scoreline of 16 points to 10.

The midlands side were relegated from Leinster League Division 1b last season without winning a game, with their victory on Sunday their first in almost 12 months.

Clondalkin face New Ross away as they look to bounce back from the opening round defeat.

Elsewhere, Clondalkin seconds were held to a 17-17 draw by Longford’s seconds.