Round robin off to best possible start
ENNISCORTHY 27 INSTONIANS 12
ENNISCORTHY KNEW that travelling to Shawsbridge to take on Instonians in the A.I.L. round robin qualifier was going to be a tough ask, but in the opening 40 minutes they produced an almost flawless performance to lead the home team 24-0 at half-time.
Instonians, the Ulster champions, were relegated from the A.I.L. in 2013 and had former Ulster and Ireland scrum-half Paul Marshall in their line-up. Marshall won 206 Ulster caps and he also has three Irish caps which he picked up in 2013.
Instonians are also celebrating their 100th anniversary but Enniscorthy were not in a giving mood.
The defence was strong and they were lethal with the ball in hand. There was just two minutes on the clock when they produced their first score.
Out-half Ivan Poole chipped over the home team’s rushing defence and full-back Richard Dunne grabbed the ball and crossed the line. Poole added the conversion for a dream start.
It was all Enniscorthy as they kept up the relentless pace, although Instonians did have a chance inside the ’22 with a driving maul which was defended brilliantly.
Enniscorthy won a line-out 30 metres from the Instonians end line which Ivan Poole flashed to Killian Lett. He in turn fed the ball to Ivan Jacob outside him.
He cut in field but had Richard Dunne on his shoulder, and the full-back touched down for the second try. With Poole adding the conversion, it was 14-0 after 15 minutes.
They suffered a blow then when prop Angelo Todisco had to go off injured, to be replaced by Conall Kavanagh.
Matt Fitzpatrick made a superb break through the middle but his pass went to ground and Enniscorthy recovered the ball.
Ten minutes before half-time Enniscorthy added a marvellous third try. When an Instonians move broke down, Ivan Poole threw the ball to his left to Daniel Pim who had left wing David O’Dwyer in support, and Ivan Jacob came flying off his opposite wing to take the ball and touch down for the third and decisive try which Ivan Poole again converted.
Enniscorthy produced a terrific counter-attack after turning over the ball, and Instonians centre David Scott strayed offside which gave Ivan Poole an easy three-pointer in front of the posts and a 24-0 half-time lead.
Right from the kick-off Ivan Jacob picked up a loose ball and almost ran the length of the pitch but was stopped short of the line. Referee Michael Scanlon, in consultation with his touch judge, saw an infringement at the start of the move however and awarded a penalty to the home team.
Out-half Richard McCarthy kicked for touch and from the resulting line-out full-back Bradley McNamara touched down in the right corner to give the home team some hope. McCarthy added the conversion (24-7).
Enniscorthy’s defence was excellent as the pressure from the home team grew, but they did give away some easy penalties.
Enniscorthy were prepared to do the hard yards and none more so than Killian Lett who produced some outstanding carries in the centre. Enniscorthy’s ability to spoil the home side’s mauls was also significant.
Enniscorthy suffered another blow when they lost young 18-year-old second row Stephen Hadley with a shoulder injury after 60 minutes. He was replaced by Liam Stamp.
As the game entered the last 15 minutes the Enniscorthy scrum came under a lot of pressure and they eventually had Conall Kavanagh yellow-carded. Whilst he was off there was uncontested scrums.
Enniscorthy made a rare visit to the Instonians half when Nick Doyle and Killian Lett combined to set up a move which was halted illegally by the defence, and this gave Ivan Poole an easy kick from in front of the posts to extend the lead to 27-7.
In injury time the home side scored a consolation try from winger Ross O’Donnell in the corner. The conversion was missed.
Enniscorthy almost scored again but a forward pass had an Ivan Jacob try disallowed.
The winners will be at home to Clonmel, who beat Connemara 31-21, next Saturday at 2.30 p.m.
Team: Angelo Todisco (Conall Kavanagh, 20), Davy Murphy (Jamie Barron, 70), Paddy Waters, Stephen Hadley (Liam Stamp, 65), Timmy Morrissey, Tom Ryan (capt.), Alan Jacob, Nick Doyle, Arthur Dunne, Ivan Poole (Hughie O’Neill, 70), David O’Dwyer, Daniel Pim, Killian Lett, Ivan Jacob, Richard Dunne.