By Richie Price

THE Lansdowne Rugby Club of New York City overcame an enormous roadblock last Saturday towards the League Championship by overpowering the previously unbeaten Danbury RFC to the tune of 29-14.

The only remaining obstacle is the New York Americans, who will be challenging the Irish side on November 11 in Van Cortlandt Park.

The match began furiously, as the favored Danbury club came out looking to score early and often by keeping the home team back on their heels. The visitors pressured Lansdowne by utilizing multiple phases and the crisp tactical kicking of their outhalf.

Their efforts paid off in the seventh minute, as a Lansdowne penalty gave Danbury a shot at goal. The flyhalf split the posts which opened the scoring at 3-0. Danbury kept the pressure going due to some fine work by their big, mobile forwards.

The visitors sent a kick inside the Lansdowne 22, which was relentlessly run down by the Danbury backline. Lansdowne didn’t release the ball in the tackle, so another penalty was awarded to the Connecticut side. Their outhalf converted in the 11th minute, making the score 6-0.

Danbury continued their furious pace by mixing up their attack between the forwards and backs. A Danbury kick to the Lansdowne 22 was gobbled up by Irish side flanker Delf King, who was tackled but immediately got up to begin a counterattack, when a highly dubious referee’s whistle claimed that he didn’t release the ball. The Danbury outhalf slotted in the 15th minute, lengthening their lead to 9-0.

However, Lansdowne’s confidence never wavered, and the Irish side began to assert themselves. Multiple Lansdowne phases led to penetration deep into Danbury territory.

The visitors were whistled inside their own 22. Prop Vili Bakasikivala demanded the ball, and on the ensuing quick tap penalty hammered his way past three would-be tacklers, and dove into the in-goal. Then there was a Johnny Coghlan conversion 9-7 in the in the 24th minute.

Lansdowne seemed emboldened by the score, and on the ensuing kick-off the ball landed into the highly competent hands of outhalf Jack Dooley. From midfield, Dubliner Dooley launched a clever chip kick which bounded past Danbury’s winger and fullback. Lansdowne winger Matt ran the ball down and glided into the in-goal scoring what has to be the try of the year. The touch-down and subsequent conversion by Corkman Johnny Coghlan gave Lansdowne the lead for the first time in the 27th minute.

For the next 13 minutes, Lansdowne was relentless in attack, almost scoring on two separate occasions. However, some fine defensive work by Danbury prevented any more numbers.

The second half began with the Danbury flyhalf being sin-binned for punching. Lansdowne took full advantage by mixing up their attack and forcing their way deep into Danbury territory.

Some exceptionally clever kicking by flanker Brian Fingleton led to a Lansdowne lineout at the Danbury 10. The ensuing throw-in went directly to Kildareman Fingleton, who blew past the Danbury line, and slammed down in the in-goal.

The try, in the 16th minute, widened the home side’s lead to 19-9. Lansdowne’s confidence was now at its apex, and the Irish Bhoys began to smell blood.

The next kickoff saw the home side on the attack yet again. Defending from inside their own 22, Danbury stole the ball at the base of a ruck.

However, the ensuing clearance kick was blocked and run down by flanker James Kennedy. Tipperaryman Kennedy snatched up the ball, and slammed down in the in-goal. Scrumhalf Smooch Delaney converted in the 19th minute, making the numbers 26-9 to the Bhoys.

Danbury, perhaps over-confident at the beginning of the match, but now sensing the possibility of a loss, started to push forward in an attempt to stage a comeback. The men from Connecticut utilized multiple phases in an advanced attack mode and arrived at the Lansdowne five meter line.

Despite some huge hits and several key tackles by the heroic Lansdowne defense, Danbury touched down under the posts in the 24th minute. The score brought the visitors to within 26-14.

The next six minutes saw Lansdowne player-coach Gavin Butler take control of the match. Center Butler did his Jonah Lomu ball in hand imitation, and his Ronan O’Gara ball at foot mimic and advanced the Lansdowne cause down to Danbury’s 22. An offside penalty gave scrumhalf Delaney a kick at goal.

Offalyman Delaney was perfect, finalizing the score at 29-14. The final minutes saw a gallant attempt by Danbury to close the gap, only to be foiled by a knock-on just in front of the in-goal.

The final whistle blew with the delirious Lansdowne players and supporters (led by superfan Irene Delaney) leaping into celebratory mode.

Man of the match was flanker James Kennedy, who was everywhere on the pitch all day long. Special mention goes to Gavin Butler, Vili Bakasikivala, Delf King, Brian Fingleton, Manus O’Sullivan, Smooch Delaney, Mark Maher, Mike Doolan and the irrepressible Jack Dooley.

Lansdowne practices are held every Tuesday and Thursday in Van Cortlandt Park at 243rd Street and Broadway in the Bronx at 7 p.m. Interested players of any age and experience should come down or contact Lansdowne at 914-584-4541, or website www.lansdowerfc.com, or e-mail lansdowne@hotmail.com.

Next up for Lansdowne is the league decider at home against the New York Americans on November 11 at 1 p.m.