Portlaoise feel the full effect as Garden girls go on the rampage
WICKLOW 20 PORTLAOISE 10
Having secured a place in this year’s Leinster Division 1 earlier in the season the Wicklow girls started their campaign with a bonus point victory over a tough and skilful Portlaoise side.
The reasonable sized crowd that braved the cold were treated to a game high in skill and endeavour.
Both sides contributing hugely to what was a highly entertaining match. Wicklow seemed to have overcome their habit of being slow starters and they came out of the blocks with all guns blazing led by their pack who were rucking with speed and numbers their backline were making serious inroads into Portlaoise territory but the girls from Laois were extremely stout in their defensive duties and somewhat against the run of play the Portlaoise girls scored a breakaway try to take an early lead 5-0.
This led to a sustained period of pressure from Portlaoise as they looked to add to their tally.
The Wicklow girls though hung tough and with nearly a carbon copy break from deep by their scrum-half levelled the match at 5-5.
Portlaoise then scored a soft try from a penalty only five yards out to justifiably lead at half time by 10-5.
If the first half had been good the second half was even better.
Wicklow scored a marvellous for- wards try off a called line-out move driving the Portlaoise pack over from 15 meters out.
The Wicklow girls then increased the tempo, with some wonderful direct running by their backs and sterling support play by their pack they slowly ground down a resilient Portlaoise side and with two tries in the last seven minutes they recorded a satisfying 20-10 victory.
Back Row from L to R: Megan Dover Evans, Becky Wray, Siobhan Foden, Aoife O'Donoghue, Kayleigh Sullivan, Leah Fisher, Amelia Kavanagh, Rachel Griffey, Lauren Barry, Amy Thomas.
Front Row From L to R: Alana Sheridan, Megan McConnell, Naoise Alvey, Daisy McKenzie, Nicole Murphy, Hannah Rose Buckley, Heidi Keogh