ENNISCORTHY RUGBY
Richmond 18, Enniscorthy 32: Enniscorthy made seven changes to the starting team for their trip to Limerick in the All-Ireland Junior Cup on Saturday.
After 35 minutes, when Richmond scored their third try to put them 18-5 ahead, Enniscorthy looked in trouble.
Despite an early try from out-half Jack Kelly when he swooped on a dropped pass and ran in from 25 metres, the visitors did not settle into this game until after the interval.
The home side opened the scoring with a penalty kick after 15 minutes, before Jack Kelly’s try.
However, Richmond struck back with a well-taken try from their scrumhalf. Ten minutes later their right winger scored an excellent try in the corner.
It got worse for the visitors on 35 minutes as they failed to field a high kick down the right flank and their right winger scored in the same corner after hacking on the dropped ball.
Just on half-time when Enniscorthy did manage to retain the ball for a sustained period, they were awarded a penalty under the posts and opted for a scrum.
The ball was spread wide for right winger Ivan Jacob to score in the corner. This left the score at 18-10 for Richmond at the interval.
Enniscorthy came out a different team in the second-half with a bit more structure to their play. Their discipline, though, let them down at times, conceding a number of penalties, particularly at the break down.
After mounting pressure from their set-piece, centre Killian Lett raced over to score under the posts for Jack Kelly to convert. Enniscorthy’s scrum and line-out worked well all day and was the foundation for their eventual victory.
The home side became more ragged as the game wore on and they were comprehensively outplayed for most of the second-half.
An Ivan Poole penalty on 60 minutes put Enniscorthy ahead and, when Jack Kelly dotted down on the left wing after some slick passing through the backs, victory looked assured.
With five minutes to go, lock Tomás Stamp made a great run down the middle before transferring to Ivan Jacob, and when tackled he off-loaded to scrum half Arthur Dunne who raced over under the posts. Ivan Poole’s conversion brought Enniscorthy’s score to 32 points.
After the game, coach Kieran Hurrell singled out the performances in the pack of Luke Cummins, Paddy Waters and Tomás Stamp. He was pleased with the showings from all the newcomers.
Some tight calls on selection will have to be made for their Leinster League outing against Boyne on Saturday at the Ross Road.
Enniscorthy: James Doyle (Pat Doyle, 65), Murt Kehoe (Davy Murphy, HT), Paddy Waters, Tomás Stamp, Liam Stamp (Timmy Morrissey, HT), Tom Ryan (capt.), Luke Cummins, Nick Doyle, Alan Jacob (Arthur Dunne, 30), Jack Kelly, David Shore (Ivan Poole, 50), Killian Lett, Daniel Pim, Ivan Jacob, Michael Farrell.
Enniscorthy 24, Wexford Wanderers 19: This was a terrific Leinster League Under-15 match played in Ross Road under lights, with Darragh Kehoe scoring a brilliant individual try after just five minutes.
Enniscorthy dominated for the next 15 minutes but they could not turn it into scores and butchered a few chances.
Wanderers finished the half very strongly with two tries before the halftime break to lead 12-7.
They were on top in the opening 15 minutes as the home team conceded a soft try and the score was extended to 19-7.
Enniscorthy eventually came alive, with captain Marco Byrne leading the way as he sent centre Arron Quigley in for a try. James Kaylita missed the conversion.
Ciarán Doyle made a strong burst to score another try, and again the conversion was missed.
There was a frantic finish and, in almost the last play of the game, Arron Quigley broke the Wexford cover to score the crucial try, with Kaylita added a superb conversion for an excellent win.
Wexford Wanderers had pushed the home team all the way, but the performances of Levi Rozsa, Marco Byrne, Ciarán Doyle Shane Carley, James Kaylita, Arron Quigley and Darragh Kehoe earned the win for Enniscorthy.
Team: Conor Walsh, Mark Asple, Lawrence Power, Shane Carley, Sam Geraghty, Levi Rozsa, Marco Byrne, James Kaylita, Jude Green, Stevan Larkin, Arron Quigley, Darragh Kehoe, James Byrne, Brian Cronin. Subs. - Nathan Murphy, Odran Breen.
Enniscorthy 36, Wicklow 0: The Enniscorthy Under-16s made the trip to Wicklow for their maiden Leinster League qualifier of the season.
The match was played in calm but very wet conditions. The Slaneysiders got the perfect start when, from the kick-off, James Doyle claimed the ball, ran from his own ’22, evaded three tackles and off-loaded to Stefen San Augustin who finished off the score.
Enniscorthy were dominating up front but numerous handling errors kept the home side in the game.
With less than ten minutes to go to half-time, the game was still finely balanced, but Enniscorthy’s forwards recycled the ball and finally cracked Wicklow’s stubborn defence, with Aaron Doyle crossing the whitewash for the second try. Conal Kervick added the conversion to put them twelve points ahead..
Just before half-time, Seán Kelly released Ronan Kervick in midfield. He in turn put Stefen San Augustin free, and he ran a super line to split the Wicklow defence, with Cillian Doyle finishing the move with a try.
It was a tremendous score, particularly considering the difficult playing conditions, and it finally gave Enniscorthy some breathing space as the half-time whistle sounded at 17-0.
The second-half was more of the same, with Enniscorthy’s pack dominating at the scrum and line-outs, giving Wicklow very little opportunity to fashion any kind of scoring chances.
Enniscorthy added three more tries, with two from James Doyle and a super individual effort from Ore Lasisi who shimmied his way over the line from ten yards out.
Overall, this was a very good performance from Enniscorthy. The workrate all over the field was impressive and they never gave the home side a way into the match.
The game was notable for the introduction of Mikey Webster for his first match, and he coped admirably with the occasion. We also welcomed back our out-half, Conal Kervick, after a sixweek absence following a hand injury.
Team: Wayne Sutton, Evan O’Connor, David Bolger, Chris O’Leary, Josh Murphy, Aaron Doyle, James Doyle, Ore Lasisi, Seán Kelly, Conal Kervick, Evan Jacob, Ronan Kervick, Barry Hassey, Stefen San Augustin, Cillian Doyle, Shawn Leacy, Joshua Kinsella, Matt Kinnaird, Mark Ennis, Mikey Webster.
Enniscorthy 32, Kilkenny 7: On a busy day at the club home grounds, the Enniscorthy Under-18 side faced Kilkenny in a mid-morning kick-off under leaden skies.
’Scorthy had a number of forced changes due to player unavailability and injuries.
After a promising start from the home side, Kilkenny were the first to score with an excellently executed converted try from the fly-half which was followed by a passage of strong play from the visitors.
Enniscorthy, however, responded with Temi Lasisi imposing himself in particular. Just reward followed with a try in the 21st minute when Michael McGinty scored, and it was converted by replacement kicker Michael Kinsella-Shiggins just before he was forced off with a leg injury.
Michael McGinty got in for another try just before half-time to leave the score 12-7 at the break.
Enniscorthy lost Temi Lasisi due to an ankle injury midway through the second-half after they had started strongly with a quick try from Miguel Byrne.
Enniscorthy were now dominating, and second row Shane Kenny added two further tries to increase the lead.
Just before full-time, Cian Wickham scored to leave the final score at 32-7. Overall, it was a strong performance considering the number of forced changes.
Team: Gavin Redmond, Jack Saunders, Steven Hickey, Jack Freeman, Shane Kenny, Jim Doyle, Neil Kidd, Temi Lasisi, Conn Maher, Michael Kinsella-Shiggins, Oran French, Mikie Nolan, Cameron O’Leary, Michael McGinty. Replacements: Tom Manning, Ryan Cahill, Miguel Byrne, Tadhg Maher, Cian Wickham, Killian Creed.