Top spot for Gorey after derby success
GOREY 29 ARKLOW AMAZONS 5
THE GOREY Senior ladies took on their closest rivals, Arklow Amazons, in Clonattin and seized top spot in the Leinster League table with a decisive win, going four points clear in the process.
Arklow were a point ahead in the table coming into the match, but Gorey had a game in hand.
The game couldn’t have started better for Gorey as out-half Ciara Breen opened the Arklow defence up with a training ground move to Tara Doyle, who ran from her own ‘22 to score under the posts. Niamh Newens converted.
The Arklow forwards made life very difficult for Gorey, and the back row combination of Ciara Tomkins, Eimear Hickey and Anna Nolan had to be at their very best to keep them at bay.
After a turnover from Orla Besanson in the Arklow ‘22, scrumhalf Nicola McGrath released the back line and Niamh Newens pinned her ears and headed for the corner to score.
It was Arklow’s turn then to put more and more pressure on Gorey, but it was to no avail. Flashy hands from Eimear Hickey released club captain Olivia Veal to score the third try.
Just before the break, speedy winger Tríona Murray broke the defence and ran the length of the pitch to score, only for the referee to change his mind and award Arklow a penalty for obstruction, and Ciara Breen had to spend ten minutes in the sin-bin.
Arklow started the second-half strong and broke the Gorey line almost straight away, only for number 8 Anna Nolan to make a try-saving tackle.
Arklow followed with about 15 phases of play, but some huge tackles from front five Maria Breen, Clodagh Murphy, Aine Whelan, Olivia Tallon and Olivia Veal kept them at bay.
The game was played around the halfway line for the next 20 minutes until Arklow finally got their break and scored in the corner after a lot of pressure.
This really handed them a lifeline by bringing the score back to 17-5, but Arklow hearts were broken when number 8 Emily Slator knocked on the ball from the re-start, giving Gorey a scrum on the 22-metre line.
Anna Nolan picked from the base and beat six defenders before off-loading to outside centre Niamh Doran to score under the sticks, with Tríona Murray converting.
Arklow heads dropped and Gorey took advantage of this, allowing Ciara Breen to pull the strings. And after a number of phases, Olivia Veal spotted a gap and headed through to score the last try.
This left the final score at 29-5 to Gorey and put them four points clear on the table, still with their game in hand. Players of the day went to Eimear Hickey in the forwards and Tara Doyle in the backs.
The players and coaching staff of Simon Besanson, Carrie Hanley and Philip Horan would like to thank everybody for the much-appreciated continued and growing support the team are receiving.
Gorey: Aine Whelan, Clodagh Murphy, Maria Breen, Olivia Veal (capt.), Olivia Tallon, Ciara Tomkins, Eimear Hickey, Anna Nolan, Nicola McGrath, Ciara Breen (vice-capt.), Tríona Murray, Orla Besanson, Niamh Doran, Tara Doyle, Niamh Newens, Sarah Sheridan, Shannen Byrne, Alix Doyle, Cailín Fitzpatrick, Tess O’Brien, Helena Scanlon, Katie Doyle.