All to play for
Wanderers retain slim hope
THE WEXFORD Wanderers first XV hosted Mullingar at Park Lane on Sunday in the penultimate round of Leinster League Division 2A.
Wanderers came into the weekend after a disappointing Provincial Towns Cup exit to Division 1A side Dundalk seven days earlier.
Wanderers have been combative this season and came into the game in third place, looking for a bonus point win to reel back in the leaders, Clondalkin and Cill Dara.
The game started with both sides being very edgy, and it took until the twelfth minute for the home team to settle when Wanderers forwards took the ball through a number of phases before centre Waters cut past his defender to score under the posts.
Minutes later the visitors reduced the margin with a penalty, one of a large number Wanderers surprisingly coughed up in the opening period.
The next score from the Wexford side came on 25 minutes when, following a well-managed rolling maul by the forwards, the back line released Callum Murphy who wormed over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Just before the interval, in almost a replica move to Murphy’s previous try, out-half Corey Carty slipped in in the opposite corner for the final action of the half, with Waters adding the points to give Wanderers a 19-3 lead at the interval.
In the second period both sides continued to battle away until the 55th minute when, following a poor clearance, replacement winger Liam Barry coolly collected and launched a counter-attack from the left wing which resulted in Carty getting his second in the corner on the right.
At this stage, with the bonus point in the bag, Wexford let the gas off and Mullingar started to come back into the contest. Pressure finally paid off with 15 minutes remaining when they were awarded a penalty try.
Thankfully, from the re-start Mullingar conceded a penalty which Waters dispatched to keep the scoreboard humming. As if the contest could not get any more twists, in the final minutes Mullingar conjured up a consolation try by stretching the Wexford back line and crossing in the corner. The final score at Park Lane was 27-17, a bonus point win for Wanderers.
After the end of the contest other results were of interest, in particular those concerning Clondalkin and Cill Dara who were both away from home.
When they did come, with Clondalkin dispatching New Ross 85-0 and Cill Dara beating Portlaoise 12-0, they did little to change the standings at the top of the table, although not picking up a bonus point may cost Cill Dara dear.
The focus of the Wanderers first XV now turns to an away trip to Newbridge on March 3 where all three contenders go into the weekend with the possibility of a league title win.
On paper it would appear Clondalkin are firmly in the driving seat, with little inclination to relinquishing it as they face second bottom Railway Union at home, while Cill Dara face bottom side New Ross at home.
Wanderers have by far the toughest challenge of the final round, facing a Newbridge side just three points behind them and eyeing up Wanderers’ third place.
Action next weekend switches back to the Seconds Towns Cup where the derby fixture will be the visit by Wanderers to face Enniscorthy who dispatched Clane 63-0 in the opening round, while Wanderers accounted for Dundalk comprehensively.
The game kicks-off at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Ross Road. Your support would be appreciated.
Wexford: Bobby Clancy, Graham Grant, Aidan Stewart, Darragh Kehoe (capt.), John Turner, Tom Brennan, Luke Roche, Carthaigh Geoghegan, Stewart Ryan, Corey Carty, Callum Murphy, Colm O Corcora, Richie Waters, Seán O Corcora, Shea Boggan. Subs. - Kevin Redmond, Kyle Roche, Seán Redmond, Seán Stafford, Liam Barry.