THE GODS who control the elements smiled on Terenure in bleakest Lakelands Park on Saturday when a gale force wind, which blew them ahead by 18-0 at half time, abated significantly in the second half and allowed them to resist a firm challenge from fellow strugglers Galwegians.
Both sides made little of the conditions and some adventurous rugby was played, but hard though both sides tried they never managed to put together a pattern of play which might earn them a reprieve from the threat or relegation.
Terenure now have leap-frogged above Ballymena, Blackrock, Clontarf and Galwegians in the table. If some Terenure supporters took pleasure in the misfortune of neighbours St Mary's on their visit to Cork it will not come as a surprise, but it seems a little early to gloat, although the win could yet be of considerable importance for them.
The support of the gale in the first half was crucial to Terenure's effort. Yet they struggled to make full use of it even though a third-minute try by Girvan Dempsey gave them the kind of start which teams dream of. It was Girvan's fellow Irish squad member Eric Miller who set him up and he sped over the line but was unable to get near enough to the posts to make a conversion likely and Craig Fitzpatrick dragged the ball wide.
It took another 10 minutes of valiant effort to increase the lead and then Fitzpatrick fed Billy Treacy down the right for another try but again Fitzpatrick from a difficult angle failed with the kick.
After this Treacy took over the kicking duties and he prospered in the 38th minute with a successful penalty effort. Galway's chances dimmed considerably four minutes later and well into injury time when Terenure made the most of a Galway back line effort for Mike Smyth to cross the line and Treacy missed the conversion by the width of a goalpost.
Galwegians showed their mettle early in the second half when a poor attempt at a clearance by Dempsey was snapped up by Willie Ruane and Merveyn Murphy and Duignan combined for a try to reduce the deficit.
Three minutes later Terenure had every right to be annoyed when Clarke was obstructed as he went to tackle and Elwood made the most of the situation to score under the posts and add the conversion to narrow the gap to a mere six points.
Terenure seemed to be heading for defeat after 21 minutes of the second half when Elwood reduced the arrears to three points but the fact that the force of the wind had diminished after a brief shower of rain saw Terenure steady themselves and, retaining possession well, they scored a splendid try by Dempsey and followed up with a successful penalty by Treacy.
Galwegians refused to accept defeat, but Terenure kept things together tidily to see out the remaining minutes.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 3 mins: G Dempsey try, 5-0; 14: Treacy try, 10-0; 38: Treacy penalty, 13-0; Smyth try, 18-0; 44: Duignan try 18-5; 52 Elwood try, conversion, 18-12; 62: Elwood penalty, 18-15; 73: Dempsey try 23-15; 79: Treacy penalty 26-15.
TERENURE: C Clarke; D Coleman, B Treacy, M Smyth, G Dempsey; C Fitzpatrick, N Hogan; S Baretto, J Blaney, J Campbell; R Sheriff, C Potts; G Hill, E Miller, P O'Malley. Replace- ments: J Coffey for D Coleman (45 mins), D Blaney for O'Malley (55 mins), P Holden for Potts ( 66 mins), D Hegarty for Hogan (70 mins), K Coleman for Beretto (80 mins), D Crossan for J Blaney (83 mins).
GALWEGIANS: W Ruane; P Duignan, A Reddan, M Murphy, N Carolan; E Elwood, D Reddan; P Leahy, D Lee, D Dobson; G Heaslip, J Duffy; B Gavin, J Charlie, J Casserley. Replacements: P Kay for P Leahy (half-time), P Ruane for Carolan (55 mins), J Dinneen for Gavin ( 65 mins).
Referee: B Smith (MRS).
