GOREY RUGBY

Gorey J2s were also in Boyne and in a cracking game were pipped at the post when a conversion attempt was narrowly wide with just one point between the teams.

This game, like the J1s, was also end-to-end as both teams moved the ball at every opportunity. Gorey started the brighter and could have scored but some over-enthusiasm denied them.

Boyne slowly got into the game and sustained pressure saw them cross for the opening score which they converted. A further Boyne penalty extended that lead to ten.

Gorey upped their game and were now growing in confidence and putting some phases together. A break by Killian Breen saw him just stopped short, with Tom Jameson on hand to open the Gorey account. That is the way it stayed until half-time.

The second-half saw Boyne extend their lead after some soft Gorey defending allowed them in for a try. Gorey responded well and good work from the forwards saw them create the space to move the ball through the backs, and they were rewarded when Killian Breen finished off consistent forward pressure. Cian Hadden converted.

Having got themselves back in the game, the visitors coughed up another try, and to make matters worse a further penalty extended the Boyne lead to 25-12.

Boyne looked to be home and dry with 20 minutes on the clock. Slowly the younger Gorey team started spreading the ball with Garret Bater directing operations, and the cracks began to appear in the home defence.

After a patient build-up, Gorey were soon rewarded when wing Shane O’Leary went over in the corner, with Cian Hadden converting from a difficult angle to reduce Boyne’s lead to six.

With a score now between the teams, Gorey went in search of the win, with Boyne working hard to defend. Again persistent pressure paid off as Gorey moved the ball from left to right and back again.

They finally found the space and Luke Willoughby rounded the Boyne wing to score to leave the final score at 25-24 after a pulsating J2 game, with both teams showing great intent to play rugby.

Best for Gorey were Garrett Bater, Stephen Sheehan and Shane O’Leary in the backs, with Tom Jameson, Lar Kinsella and Killian Breen (man of the match) in the forwards.

Gorey will play Wicklow next Saturday in Clonattin.

Gorey: J. Mulligan, F. Bolger, T. Tomkins, T. Jameson, L. Kinsella, Alex Tucci, B. Mason, K. Breen, S. Tomkins, C. Hadden, D. Brennan, S. Sheehan, R. Harrington, L. Willoughby, S. O’Leary, G. Bater, P. O’Connor, Z. Sinnott, A. Masterson, R. Jones.

Gorey 28, Tullow 5: Gorey ladies travelled to Tullow on Sunday looking to kick-start their season with a victory after the previous week’s defeat.

After a tough battle Gorey managed to come out on top.

Both teams started well with defences on top for large parts of the first-half, with neither side’s attack capitalising when within the opposite ‘22.

Gorey finally made the only breakthrough of the half when Ciara Breen kicked behind the Tullow defence and Triona Murray ran on to the ball and managed to beat the remaining defenders and dot down under the posts. Murray as always made the conversion.

Gorey started the brighter in the second-half, with some good carries from the pack making space out wide for Georgina Hearn to break the Tullow line and dot down under the post which Triona Murray converted.

From the re-start Tullow attempted to get back into game. However, Gorey forced the turnover and a strong run from Róisín Murphy set Lorraine Gahan off.

She dotted down at the posts and Triona Murray made the conversion.

Tullow then went on the attack with some strong tackles from Valerie Conyard and Denise Deering putting them under pressure and forcing the turnover.

From the turnover Gorey went on the attack, and some good off-loading lead to Lauren Farrell-McCabe breaking free to score under the posts which Triona Murray converted.

Tullow were not finished and showed their spirit and never-saydie attitude which paid off when Alex O’Brien dotted down for a wellworked try after Tullow pressure on the Gorey line.

Tullow fought until the end of the game to try to get on the scoreboard again.

However, the Gorey defence held firm under the pressure, leaving the final score 28-5.

Gorey 34, Arklow 0: The Gorey Under-13s played Arklow in their first home game of the south-east league.

Gorey started very strongly, with the forwards making good yards and setting up a solid platform for the backs.

This led to Neil Byrne finishing off a fine try after three minutes.

Gorey dominated the first-half with futher tries from Michael McDonald and Daniel Doyle.

Gorey continued their good work in the second-half with great defensive work from Andrew Graham, Dylan Hendy, Tom Stokes and Will Cooper.

Forwards and backs combined well to score a further three tries, with Reece Price converting two.