WICKLOW POWER ON
Enniscorthy await in Towns Cup decider after super win
WICKLOW RFC 16 LONGFORD RFC 3
ON Sunday afternoon Wicklow RFC senior men travelled to Naas to take on a powerful Longford side in the semi-final of the Provincial Towns Cup.
Having gone out at the semi-final stage for two years in a row there was serious pressure on Wicklow to get the win.
A large crowd from both clubs was in attendance. The game was played on a dry sunny day with a stiff diagonal crosswind that favoured Wicklow in the first half.
It was a nervous start as both side tested each others mettle in the early stages. Wicklow soon settled into things and began to exert some pressure in the Longford 22. Solid defence from the midlanders frustrated Wicklow on several occasions.
The early stalemate was broken in the twenty third minute when another Wicklow attack came to a halt on the 22. Niall Earls sensed there was nothing on and coolly dropped a goal to put his side in front 3–0. After all the Wicklow pressure, it was an important score.
Wicklow began to dominate in terms of possession but at crucial times they turned the ball over with simple mistakes.
The Wicklow lineout misfired on the day and Longford disrupted the Wicklow throw time after time.
To make matters worse Wicklow lost number eight Charlie Butterworth to injury in the 35th minute.
They were fortunate to have a player of the calibre of Wes Wojnar to come off the bench. Wojnar led Wicklow to victory in the 2016 Provincial Towns Cup final and his athleticism and experience are second to none.
As half-time approached Wicklow warmed to their task and a stretched Longford began to concede penalties.
Eventually in first half injury time, the referee lost patience and the Longford Hooker Hubie Connolly was sent to the bin. Wicklow opted for the five-metre scrum and with an extra man advantage moved the ball wide.
A strong burst by Shane Farrar, who worked hard to get his hands free and offload to Ben Porter. The big full back still had plenty of work to do, but used his strength to break through and score the games first try. The tricky conversion was narrowly wide but Wicklow led 8–0 at the break.
Early in the second half a good spell of Wicklow pressure led to another penalty in Longford territory.
This time Wicklow elected to go for the posts and Niall Earls made no mistake with the kick. 11–0 after 45 minutes and Wicklow were starting to look comfortable.
Longford with the wind behind them and veteran outhalf Colm Glynn now at the helm, threw the kitchen sink at Wicklow.
When Liam Gaffney was sent to the bin for ten minutes, the previously impenetrable Wicklow defence began to creak. A penalty with 25 minutes remaining gave the midlanders hope and sowed the seeds of doubt in some Wicklow supporters minds.
Then came the defining moment of the game. The big Longford second row Daire O’Brien broke through a tackle and powered up the pitch towards the line. A last ditch double tackle from took him down, short of the line but a score seemed certain.
Wicklow’s scramble defence was superb and a goal line stand ensued. Longford hammered the Wicklow line. A score here would have made it 11–10 and all the momentum would have been with the men in black.
A big hit from Neil Dickenson dislodged the ball and Billy Ngawini was gone like a light, up the pitch.
A Longford knock on gave Wicklow an attacking scrum 60 metres out. The ball was moved left and then back to the right. A sensational break from Adam Cullen tore Longford apart. Cullen seemed certain to score but a brilliant tackle brought him down metres from the line.
The damage was done, the ball was recycled and player coach George Naoupu powered over to score the crucial try. The conversion was wide but Wicklow led 16–3 with ten minutes left on the clock.
Longford to their credit never let their heads drop and they continued to battle until the final whistle went. They have had an outstanding season.
Their second place finish in a very competitive Division 1B may well see them playing in Division 1A next season and based on this performance they certainly wouldn’t be out of place.
Wicklow for their part are delighted to be back in the Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup final.
While they played very well at times on Sunday, the team feel that there is still a lot of room for improvement in their game. If they harbour hopes of lifting the venerable old trophy for only the second time in the club’s history, there will need to be.
They will play their fierce rivals Enniscorthy in what is a mouth-watering clash between the top two sides in Leinster. The game takes place in Navan RFC on Sunday, April 28.
Enniscorthy have looked a class apart this season and are sailing through the AIL qualifiers.
They travelled to Instonians and comfortably beat the Ulster champions on their home patch. They demolished the Munster champions Clonmel 46–5 last weekend and travel to Connemara to finish the job this weekend.
The Wexfordmen will be plying their trade in the AIL next season and are a superb team.
Wicklow will go to Navan as underdogs but they wont fear Enniscorthy.
Niall Earls’ men beat the Slaneysiders earlier in the season in what was their only loss in the entire campaign.
The two teams have had fantastic battles over the last few years but Wicklow know, in their hearts, on the day, if they get it right, they can beat them.
‘Preparations start now. The whole club and the whole town will get behind this team. We will bring a big crowd to Navan,’ said a club spokesperson.
‘The coaches and managers will leave no stone unturned to get things right. After that it is up to the players. One thing is certain, they will leave nothing on the pitch. An exciting few weeks lie ahead,’ they added. Wicklow: Eanna Killeen, Jack McKenna, Neil Dickenson, John Jenkinson, George Naoupu, Liam Gaffney, Mark Nicholson, Charlie Butterworth, Dennis Higgins, Niall Earls, Alex Porter, Shane Farrar, Billy Ngawini, Adam Cullen, Ben Porter. Subs: Eddie Downes, Wes Wojnar, Pablo Castello Vinolo, Brian Shortt, Simon Breen.