Wicklow RFC romp to hearty victory!
WICKLOW RFC’S first squad put in a fantastic performance against a powerful North Kildare side at Ashtown Lane on Sunday to secure another bonus point win. The five points puts Wicklow 12 points clear of second placed Tullow on top of the Leinster League Division 1B table.
The game was played on a cold, dry day with a biting cross wind that slightly favoured Wicklow in the first half.
North Kildare seemed like a different side to the one that started indifferently in the abandoned game in Wicklow in November. They were very fired up right from the start and came to Wicklow very clearly looking for the win.
The men from Maynooth started with real intent. They were a big side with a number of powerful ball carriers. Their game plan was simple enough with the big men hitting it up in an attempt to make the hard yards. In many ways they played into Wicklow’s hands. Niall Earls men have by far the meanest defensive record in the league and have conceded a miserly 79 points in nine games and average of less than nine points per game.
The home sides defence was in no mood to concede anything to the bigger North Kildare pack. Every runner was met with a defensive wall of red, white and black. There were some eye watering hits from the Wicklow forwards who bore the brunt of the North Kildare attacks. The back row of Andrew Doyle, Mikey Doyle and Wes Wojnar led an incredible defensive effort. North Kildare threw the kitchen sink at Wicklow but the home side didn’t concede an inch.
The game remained scoreless for the first half an hour and it was Wicklow who broke the deadlock. After some powerful work by the pack and some slick handling by the backs, winger Ben Armstrong dived over in the corner for the try. The conversion was missed but Wicklow led 5–0.
North Kildare attacked again but Wicklow lifted the siege and got a crucial score on the stroke of half-time when Niall Earls landed a penalty to send his side in with an 8–0 lead.
North Kildare started the second half on the front foot but again Wicklow soaked up everything they could throw at them and then hit them on the break. A brilliant run by Shane Farrar left him with just the full back to beat with Ben Porter screaming for the ball on his shoulder.
Farrar produced a superb dummy that fooled the full back and just about everyone else before diving over for a fantastic try. Niall Earls dropped the conversion over the bar and Wicklow led 15 – 0 after an hour.
Back came North Kildare and they had Wicklow under some pressure before a great break by Stephen Duffy lifted the siege and put Wicklow on the attack in the opposition 22. From a lineout maul the ball was popped to Mikey Doyle who crossed unopposed in the corner for another try. 20-0 to Wicklow.
With 10 minutes remaining North Kildare were reduced to 14 men when a red card was produced for a tip tackle on Niall Earls.
Wicklow showed no mercy and scored their bonus point try through the excellent Mikey Doyle. Earls conversion made it 27–0.
Former County GAA star, Rathnew’s James Stafford was making his first start for the first 15 and he produced a real piece of magic to set up the final score. He powered through two would be tacklers before producing a stunning one handed offload to the excellent Ben Porter. Porter had a lot of work to do but showed his power and pace to finish off the try from 50 metres out. The conversion left the final score at 34–0 to Wicklow.
The scoreline doesn’t really reflect the closeness of the game in what was a really bruising encounter against a big and physical side.
To a man the entire team were excellent but the young front row deserve a special mention with Shane Byrne, Jack McKenna and Eanna Killeen all putting in outstanding performances.
Wicklow now move 12 points clear with five league games remaining. They are in a fantastic position to go on and win the league and the much coveted promotion to Leinster League Division 1A but there is still a lot of work to do. They know that it is within their grasp and that they need to keep their eyes on the prize and take one game at a time.
Wicklow also have the South East final and the defence of their Provincial Towns Cup title and Leinster seconds league title to look forward to in the New Year. They finish 2016 on a high having lost only two games in the Calendar year. A remarkable achievement.
Squad: Eanna Killeen, Jack McKenna Shane Byrne, James Stafford, John Jenkinson, Andrew Doyle, Mikey Doyle, Wes Wojnar, Josh White, Niall Earls, Ben Armstrong, Shane Farrar, Ben Porter, Dean Leonard, Stephen Duffy. Subs: Mark Cullen, Seamus O’Brien, Alan Byrne, Eoin O’Sullivan.