Arklow gain revenge on gallant Greystones side

ARKLOW GREYSTONES 29 7

LAST Saturday morning was as cold as a childhood Christmas. However, this didn’t stop Arklow RFC’s under-14 girls from continuing their winning form with a comprehensive 29-7 win over a determined Greystones side.

This win also secured the girls a valuable league play-off position in March.

But what made this victory particularly satisfying for the coaches and team is that they had lost to Greystones earlier in the season. Therefore the manner of this performance had illustrated how far this team had come in one season.

Arklow issued their intention early on when captain Grainne Flynn led by example by outpacing the Greystones defence for a fine try.

This followed up soon after when Lara Prestage took advantage of some indecision in the Greystones defence on their own line to steal over for another five points. Credit to Greystones they did not give up and were a constant threat out wide. Big defence tackles from Jane Neil up front and Celine Murray and Ava Kavanagh kept them at bay. Grainne Flynn then managed to get over for a second try just before halftime leaving the score at 17-0 at the break.

Arklow were always conscious of the threat from the away team and quickly re-established their foothold on the game in the second half when Daisy Tyner crossed over following a strong break from Emma Keane. Flynn then managed to add the points with a tricky conversion.

A steely resolve from Greystones rewarded them with a try soon after, and in truth it was no than they deserved for the pressure they imposed on the home side.

However, Arklow once more re-grouped and from the resulting kick off put pressure on Greystones for allow Flynn cross over for another try leaving the final score at 29-7 to Arklow.

This was a great game that demonstrated a commitment to running rugby from both sides. Arklow now look forward to playing Naas in their league semi-final on March 24.

The fact that many of this team only took playing rugby in the recent months goes someway to illustrate the work they and their coach Sally Ann Hudson have put in to arrive at this point.

Team: Grainne Flynn, Ava Kavanagh, Emma Keane, Lara Prestage, Brogan Doyle, Jane Neill, Daisy Tyner, Aine Hendley, Celine Murray, Jane Neil, Diane Williams, Katie Hanley, Clodagh Lee, Ciara Collins Murphy, Grace Furlong, Leah Hershee.