Enniscorthy fail to score
DUNDALK ENNISCORTHY 24 0 ENNISCORTHY SUFFERED their second Leinster League Division 1A defeat in a row away to Dundalk on Saturday.
While the scoreline flattered the home team somewhat, there can be no doubt that the better and hungrier side won.
Dundalk attacked from the start and kept the pressure on until they scored in the corner from a forward drive which they converted.
After 15 minutes they were 10-0 ahead after a fine penalty kick from their centre number 12.
In the second quarter Enniscorthy came more into the game and pressed continuously inside the home team’s ’22, but dropped and sloppy passes cost them dearly.
They should have scored in this period with all the possession they had.
Instead the Dundalk right winger hacked down the field from a dropped pass.
Their flanker eventually dived over for an excellent try against the run of play.
The conversion left the half-time score at 17-0.
In the second-half Enniscorthy continued to pressurise the home side but, as in the opening half, handling errors, missed tackles and some indiscipline let them down.
Midway through this half the hosts’ full-back gathered from the half and ran all the way to score under the posts to put the game out of sight.
To be fair Enniscorthy tried until the finish. Their scrum dominated all day and the line-out was solid. The mistakes were frequent and this let them down.
Director of Rugby John Murphy said afterwards: ‘The squad’s performances both today and last week were disappointing but we are still in second place and there is a lot of rugby to be played yet.
‘One of the cornerstones of our success over the past few years has been the number of players attending training every Tuesday and Thursday night, not only turning up for training but bringing a good attitude with intensity to the sessions. You play as you train.’
Next Saturday Enniscorthy play Ashbourne at home in the Leinster League in the Ross Road at 2 p.m. in a must-win encounter if they are to catch league leaders Malahide for the title this year.
Team: James Doyle, David Murphy, Paddy Waters, Tomás Stamp, Joe Bulmer, Tom Ryan, Greg Jacob, Nick Doyle, Arthur Dunne, Ivan Poole, David O’Dwyer, Daniel Pim (capt.), Killian Lett, Ivan Jacob, Ross Barbour. Subs. - Evan Lett for Dunne (60), Anthony White for J. Doyle (60), Jack Kelly for Poole (65), Cathal Mernagh for Stamp (70), John Nolan for Waters (70).