THE REARRANGED game, cancelled due to bad weather in December, took place on Saturday last at Dr. Hickey Park with the visit of DLSP and as has been for most of the season, another defeat sees Greystones ever closer to relegation to the Third Division of the AIL.

However the scoreline was a little flattering with 'Stones turning in what was probably their best performance of the season.

Once again they fielded a much changed team with Ross Spillane donning the No. 10 shirt and Barry Lynn playing at centre due to the injury absence of Conor Cleary and also giving a debut to 19-year-old prop Ronan Kearney.

With ten minutes gone in the opening half, the visitors were awarded a penalty on the Greystones 22 when No. 7 Dan Crean was penalised for going off his feet at a ruck with the ever reliable Salmo No. 10, Conor Hickey getting the three pointer. 'Stones were playing well during that period and in particular Kearney who had no problems in the scrum and a number of breaks saw the hosts make good ground but the heavier Salmo pack were doing their job well, in particular No. 6 Niall Smullen and Conor J. Power their captain

With 20 minutes gone and a turnover on the visitors ten metre line Salmo's full-back J.C. Power took the proffered ball and with the 'Stones defence committed to attack, he took off down the right wing and with no cover coming to stop him he had an easy run in for a try. The attempted conversion from the touchline was just narrowly wide from Hickey.

Five minutes later, No. 8 Power, took a well delivered pass from Hickey and looked to be heading for the 'Stones line but a good double tackle from the Greystones centres Higgs and Lynn stopped him, two minutes later and from a Greystones line-out, Smullen took the ball and made 20 metres before being stopped by Crean.

With 25 minutes gone another good run by Power saw the No. 8 crash over for the second of the day with Hickey adding the conversion to put them into a 15-point lead.

Three minutes later and a powerful run from inside their half by Greystones wing Cian O'Sullivan, saw him dodge and weave his way into the Salmo 22 and although stopped, quick recycling saw prop Bobby Clancy take off and again although stopped on the wide right ten metres out, the ball was again delivered with a crisp pass by scrum-half Ross Mackey to his half back partner Spillane who went to the left and with a good drive from the pack it was Clancy who took the ball five metres out to crash through to touchdown in the corner for a well deserved team try, which Lynn duly delivered the convert to narrow the gap to eight points.

'Stones almost scored two minutes later when another well delivered ball from Spillane to centre Aaron Higgs on half way, he made 25 metres before being stopped and although good following up by wing Andy Mitchell saw a glimmer, once again the Salmo defence was up to the mark and the move petered out.

The second-half was only ten minutes old when another penalty award against 'Stones on the tenmetre line was punished with Hickey delivering the goods.

'Stones were playing reasonably well in defence but it was evident that the larger pack from the visitors was telling in the loose, although both Kearney and Clancy were certainly doing a good job in the set scrums while No. 8 Dan McGettigan in another marvellous game for him, was excellent and when forced to retire late in the game, 'Stones missed his leadership.

With 15 minutes to go, a turnover in the Salmo half, a crisp pass from scrum-half Richard Wood to wing Adam Philpott saw the No. 14 heading for the 'Stones line and with no cover, he had the easiest run in for their third try of the afternoon, with Hickey adding the extras to end their scoring for the day.

Next week and it's league leaders Lansdowne making the journey to Dr. Hickey Park and on the evidence thus far it looks like another tough encounter for the green and whites.

- JOHN WHISTON