Seconds set up tasty clash with Carlow
Ashbourne next in league
WEXFORD RFC WICKLOW RFC 14 26
WICKLOW RFC’S seconds travelled to Wexford Wanderers on Sunday for the second round of the Provincial Seconds Cup.
Having dispatched Newbridge in some style in the first round, Matt Byrne’s men knew this would be a tougher assignment.
Wexford got off to a good start with two penalties to make it 6-0.
Neil Kearney got Wicklow off the mark with a good try that was unconverted to bring it to 6-5 after half an hour.
In an evenly contested first half, Wicklow’s indiscipline let them down at times. They were penalised time and again which prevented them from gaining any momentum.
At one point it was 14 penalties against Wicklow to two against Wexford. A remarkable statistic! It remained 6-5 at the break.
The half-time team talk obviously did the trick as a different Wicklow came out in the second half. A powerful burst from Alex Porter saw him power through a gap and score a brilliant try from inside his own half. Alan Byrne converted and Wicklow were finally in front at 6-12.
Wicklow continued to pressurise and winger Russell Andrews appeared to be over in the corner when a shoulder charge from the last Wexford defender took him into touch. The referee awarded a penalty try and Wicklow led 6-19 and were in complete control
As the clock wound down, Alex Porter broke through the centre again and scored his second try. Alan Byrne’s conversion made it 6-26.Wexford to their credit finished the game with a try of their own which left the final score at 14-26.
Wicklow move on to the quarter finals where they will take on Co Carlow RFC in Wicklow. Carlow had a surprise win over Enniscorthy in Carlow.
This weekend the firsts and seconds are scheduled to take on league leaders Ashbourne RFC in the penultimate league game. Ashbourne will be going all guns blazing to secure the league title so Wicklow will have to be at their very best to have any chance of coming away with the points. Weather permitting the seconds kick off at 1.30pm and the firsts at 3pm on Saturday.
Seamus O’Brien, Jason Byrne, Daniel Parada, Stephen Swan, Niall Higgins, Ivan Cortes, Andrew Doyle, Lorcan Smullen, Shane Byrne, Ross O’Toole, Tim Spencer. Russell Andrew, Neil Kearney, Alex Porter, Alan Byrne, Dave Quinn, Stefan Nixon, Cillian Ballesty, Darren Byrne, Sean Duffy.