Woods Wins It For Promotion-Chasing Crescent
Mark Woods took on the ‘super sub’ mantle on for Old Crescent who for long stages looked in danger of losing to a lively Clonakilty side in Sunday’s AIB League Division Two encounter at Rosbrien.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION TWO: Sunday, March 1
OLD CRESCENT 18 CLONAKILTY 10, Rosbrien
Scorers: Old Crescent: Tries: Juan Pablo Ruiz, Mark Woods; Con: Mark Woods; Pens: Mark Woods 2
Clonakilty: Try: Gary Cribb; Con: Gary Cribb; Pen: Gary Cribb
Old Crescent got off to the ideal start when second row Juan Pablo Ruiz stole in for a try wide out after only three minutes.
But Clonakilty got back in the game when, just seven minutes later, their excellent out-half Gary Cribb went over for a try which he also converted.
When he tacked on an immediate penalty to make it 10-5 for the interval, Clonakilty looked like putting a major dampener on the promotion hopes of the Limerick side.
Reduced to 14 players when prop PJ McLoughlin was yellow carded, Old Crescent looked in even deeper trouble.
But 20 minutes from the end, Mark Woods was sent on as a replacement for Brian O’Shea and he brilliantly turned the game on its head.
Woods landed a penalty in the 70th minute and then five minutes from the end he was on target again to edge his side 11-10 in front.
In injury-time, Woods put the icing on the cake for his side when he sliced through for a try which he converted to bring his tally to 13 points in 20 minutes.
It was a much-improved performance by Clonakilty and in outhalf Cribb, they had an outstanding performer.
They dominated the forward exchanges for most of the game with Ger Hegarty, Mike Keohane and Eddie and John Knowles doing well as props.
Woods saved Old Crescent from an embarrassing defeat but his side remain promotion contenders, positioned now in fourth place.