THE CONSTANT absence of regular matches was at fault in this match. Arklow were the better side for the entire first-half, and then were very inconsistent in most of the second-half.

Arklow really started the game after five minutes of Birr pressure. Arklow put in some good tackling, and continual probing runs, and scored a very good try after Mark O'Neill made the ground and passed the ball as he was about to be tackled for Arklow backs to score a fine try made possible by good scavenging by the Arklow pack.

The conversion was deftly kicked by Shane O'Nalty. For the next period and with a little help from silly giveaway penalties by Arklow Birr found themselves at the Arklow try line which they finally got over after a long series of rucks and mauls which must have lasted five or more minutes.

If any facet of Arklows play deserved credit it has to be their scrummaging and tackling which has got better and better as the season has progressed. Birr missed the conversion and the scoreline now read 7-5 to Arklow. Arklow were not under any pressure and were running full tilt at Birr when they had the chance.

Arklow pressure was forcing Birr to concede penalties in kickable areas of the pitch and Shane Nalty was in good kicking form converted a long straight penalty to increase the Arklow lead to 10-5. Again just at the half way interval Shane converted another difficult kick to increase the home sides tally to 13 points to Birr's five.

But the best was still to come in this half. Arklow were at their own try line when Johnny Butterworth picked up the ball and ran the length of the pitch closely supported by Rob McCormack but Johnny scored a great try at the clubhouse corner flag. The conversion which was difficult was missed. The second-half should not prove too difficult for the on top Arklow team.

Changes of personnel were made at half-time mostly to give others a run and they started the second-half at a comfortable pace. After a ten minute lapse Arklow scored a great individual try by Rob McCormack who picked up a kick ahead and proceeded to miss tackle after tackle and score in the corner, which crossed the bar for a very difficult conversion but the try deserved the conversion.

From here on until the end of the match Arklow players were trying to score from all over the place but a bit more intelligent kicking would have saved energy and wasted effort. But the name of the game is to score tries so you can't be too critical of effort.

Birr started to make their way up the field and again as in the firsthalf started a rucking and mauling period which Arklow held out again for five plus minutes before allowing Birr to cross the line which was duly converted.

Arklow had numerous chances to clear their line but having secured Birr ball they tried to counter ruck their way out of their 22. Birr just waited and got in amongst the Arklow forwards and disrupted and ball coming back.

Arklow by now had their coach screaming to organise the game and some good plays kept Birr away from Arklow's danger areas until the end of this game.

Ring-rust would account for some of the poor Arklow play but overall Arklow were the better side through out most of this game.

Team from: John Louth (C), Albert Plunkett, Kieran Kiernan, Ian Hart, Darren Kenny, Ross Vigors, Mark O'Neill, Garrett Dunne, Emmet Byrne, Shane Nalty, Alan Horan, Lee Horan, Johnny Butterworth, John Furlong, Rob McCormack, Gavin Byrne, Liam Og Plunkett, Gerry Byrne, Seán O'Neill.