Brave Wicklow can’t reel in Enniscorthy
ENNISCORTHY WICKLOW 20 12
WICKLOW First XV travelled to Enniscorthy for a crucial Leinster League game on Saturday last. The game was played on a gloomy wet afternoon on a sticky pitch.
Both teams started at a good pace and matched each other in the early stages.
Gradually Enniscorthy began to exert pressure and they edged in from on the twenty minute mark when a speculative drop goal from Killian Lett hit the bar and dropped over. This gave the home side a 3-0 lead.
Enniscorthy attacked again and Wicklow were under some pressure.
They conceded a penalty close to their own line and were down to 14 with the sin binning of Shane Farrar.
The home side opted to take the scrum and got over for the first try of the game. The conversion was good and Wicklow trailed by ten points.
As half-time approached some good work by the Enniscorthy backs saw them score out wide. This time the conversion missed but Wicklow trailed 0-15 at the break.
Early in the second half a Wicklow clearance kick was turned into an attacking opportunity for the Wexford men.
A clever kick ahead made it a foot race between the flying Enniscorthy winger and a Wicklow forward.
The winger won the race and Enniscorthy were 20 points up after fifty minutes.
Wicklow didn’t let their heads drop and worked their way back into the game. With fifteen minutes left they kicked a penalty into the corner.
An Enniscorthy man was sinbinned and Wicklow got over for their first try. Keegans conversion made it 20-7.
Wicklow continued to exert pressure in a much better second half performace.
Simon Breen got over in the corner for a well deserved try but the conversion attempt was agonisingly short.
This would have given Wicklow a valuable losing bonus point but it wasn’t to be.
Wicklow were very disappointed to leave with nothing. They will be happy with they way they performed in the second half while at the same time realising they have plenty to work on.
They have three crucial games remaining in the league against Boyne and Dundalk in Wicklow and away to league leaders Ashbourne. It is going to be an exciting run in but this Wicklow side have the talent to beat anyone on their day.
Next weekend sees the visit of a Mullingar side in very good form for the first round of the Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup. Kick off is on Sunday at 2.30pm in Wicklow and we are asking all of our supporters to make it to Ashtown Lane for this crucial game.
Wicklow have a huge incentive to progress in the competition with the final of the venerable competi- tion in Wicklow on April 15th John Jenkinson’s men will only have eyes on this weekend’s tough fixture and a hungry Mullingar side who will come to Wicklow with real confidence.
WIcklow: Eanna Killeen, Jack McKenna, Neil Dickenson, John Jenkinson, George Naoupu, Eoin O’Sullivan, Jonathan Hopkins, Liam Gaffney, Eoin O’Sullivan, Billy Ngawini, Brian Keegan, Dean Leonard, Ben Porter, Shane Farrar, Ben Armstrong, Stephen Duffy, Subs Alex Porter, Wes Wojnar, Stephen Swan, Mark Cullen, Simon Breen.