THE SPRING like day made sure good running rugby was possible on a good dry pitch in Rathdrum. A good start is half the battle, and Arklow started this match at a fast pace which only got faster in the first few minutes. The Arklow pack set about Rathdrum pack who were missing some front row personnel with a vengeance.

First Arklow drove Rathdrum off their own ball in the opening scrum of the game and then mauled the ball about 30 metre with Rathdrum struggling to prevent Arklow from getting close to the try line.

Arklow went forward with great determination making the hard yards before passing the ball along the backs who were stopped just short of the line but the Rathdrum backs had strayed off side and Shane Nalty kicked a great penalty so the visitors had drawn first blood, three points to nil.

Rathdrum, from the kick-off, won the ball back from Arklow from a poor clearance kick from the Arklow backs. If anyone thought that Rathdrum were there for the taking the thought was quickly dismissed and a well worked try with the ball going out to the Rathdrum backs very quickly and was finished off by their speedy winger.

The conversion was tough but Conor Parsons converted it well. Now Arklow started again to apply pressure and did not let the try affect the desire to get some scores themselves, and after some good forward exchanges Arklow were awarded another penalty which Shane Nalty struck sweetly to make the score seven points to Arklow's six and the game was heating up nicely.

Both teams tried to get scores from different methods, the Arklow pack were superb to a man, and Rathdrum backs were very dangerous when presented with poor kicks from Arklow.

Arklow were getting on top as the half approached its end and Arklow were again rewarded for their pressure with a longish kick which Shane Nalty dispatched with ease.

Arklow crept ahead 9-7 and with the match still finely balanced no team could claim superiority. With constant pressure late in the first half, Conor Parsons again struck a great penalty to edge Rathdrum ahead as the whistle went to end this half. No one could be sure how this match would go it was so finely balanced.

Whichever team took this game by the scruff and wanted it more would come out winners. Arklow made some planned positional changes and brought on Gavin Byrne, who replaced his brother Emmet as scrum-half and Lloyd Furlong took over for the injured Ross Vigors who was having a great game.

Arklow again started this half the same as they did the first. They got themselves into the Rathdrum half and forayed into the 22 and had kept Rathdrum pinned down for long spells and the constant pressure told having stretch Rathdrum with a series of probing cross field attacks eventually Arklow outnumbered Rathdrum and Lloyd Furlong crossed the line about 20 meters to the right of the Rathdrum posts.

Shane Nalty had the kickers touch and the conversion was excellent. Arklow had now nosed ahead, 16 points to ten, and were squeezing Rathdrum harder and harder.

But 'never give up' Rathdrum got themselves back into the frame with Arklow conceding unnecessary penalties in dangerous places and gifted Rathdrum two penalties to a very good kicker who kept Rathdrum in this game.

With 15 minutes still left on the clock, Arklow moved into the Rathdrum half and began an assault on the line but at the same time not letting Rathdrum out of the danger area.

A series of yard gaining drives by all the Arklow pack brought them to within smelling distance of the line and the man with the cool head knew when to go for the line, and was not stopped despite been tackled heavily, but there was no stopping Shane Byrne from this distance.

Shane Nalty was just short with the conversion. Now with ten minutes left on the clock Arklow were five points to the good and time running down.

Arklow now played their best attacking rugby and got back into the Rathdrum half and harrassed anyone from the Rathdrum team who tried to lift the siege. Arklow kept them pinned back until the end with great confidence.

All the Arklow players were playing as a team until the final whistle.

A large contingent of Arklow supporters were happy with this result. The many good people behind the scenes that had worked so hard all week to get this Arklow side ready for this match could now go home satisfied.

It takes two teams and a good referee David Bolger from Gorey to make a good match this game had all three.

Order is now restored to the universe until next season. Arklow go on to the next round, and the games will get progressively harder but for now it's all down to the next match. If Arklow play as well as they did today they will be respected by the other teams left in the cup.

Arklow team from: John Louth (C), Tom Godkin, Albert Plunkett, Kieran Kiernan, Ian Hart, Darren Kenny, Shane Byrne, Rory Rogers, Ross Vigors, Mark Hynes, Shane Nalty, Alan Horan, Lee Horan, Johnny Butterworth, Seán O'Neill, Garrett Dunne, John Furlong, Rob McCormack, Gavin Byrne, Emmet Byrne.