Impressive ’Scorthy get another win in bag
Gap opened on Skerries as Bangor challenge dismantled
THE evidence from this final game in the opening round series suggests that Enniscorthy have laid down a firm marker as to their ability to stay in the promotion race as they dismantled the Bangor challenge with a display that saw them extend their lead at the top of the AIL Division 2C at Alcast Park, Enniscorthy, on Saturday last.
Take your pick from the opening series of game and this was by far the sides most consistent display over the eighty minutes for it was a victory achieved despite some serious setbacks early in the game with the loss of both centre David Dwyer and loose head MJ Doyle with serious injuries, which could bring a premature end to their respective seasons.
Despite the setbacks the Enniscorthy side did not show any signs of a hangover after the two players had been stretchered off, Dwyer after just seven minutes, and Doyle some ten minutes later with the game at 7-7.
The players returned to doing what they do best as they set about winning the game for their two injured colleagues with a devastating display of rugby that terrorised the visitors defence.
Having already achieved so much, in this their first season in senior club rugby, the homeside made every second count through that opening forty minutes.
Their possession over Bangor where they must have enjoyed more than 75 per cent of the possession through that opening spell was important but more important in that it showed on the scoreboard.
As a group of players Enniscorthy are making everything count on the pitch.
They are now aware they have got to play well, lay down a marker in the opening phases of play, but more importantly maintain that consistency through the game, as this was the second victory by big scoring margins on successive weekends.
They came up against a hungry, motivate Bangor side, who thought they had got their season back on track with a victory over Bruff the previous weekend to lift them up the table but the manner in which they deal with the northerners challenge leave them in a happy place for the Christmas break.
It’s important for Enniscorthy that they get off to a positive start. This they managed to achieve taking the lead as early as the third minute.
Following fine play down the right wing it was David Dwyer who retained possession when holding off several tackles to get over the line for an excellent try.
Ben Kiss in at full back in the absence of the injured Ivan Jacob was successful with the conversion making it 7-0.
Bangor showed that they could be a major threat for within two minutes they were back level.
Having won a clean and fast ruck ball in midfield they worked the ball through the backline for their inside centre to make the break out of midfield to score under the posts, and adding the conversion they made it 7-7.
It was early in the game but Enniscorthy were simply proving irresistible as the pack was dominant.
It was in their next move when David Dwyer was tackled as he kicked into space leaving him to be stretchered off with an ankle injury.
But once play was resumed Enniscorthy made their intentions known when following a bout of inter-play involving both backs and forwards it was Nick Doyle who managed to drive over the line.
Kidd was narrowly wide with the conversion attempt but Enniscorthy had once again settled now leading 12-7.
Having already lost Dwyer it was a sorry sight minutes later to see prop M J Doyle stretchered off with a shin injury.
Replacements Cian Wickham for Dwyer and Angelo Todisco quickly settled into the pattern of play and it was Todisco who got into the scoring mood after just twenty minutes following several phases of play with Allen adding the extra points.
After thirty minutes Enniscorthy secured their bonus point try the result of typical Enniscorthy driving play as Tomas Stamp got the touchdown and with Kidd adding the conversion they went in leading 26-7 at the interval.
Enniscorthy would have been heartened with that first half display despite the setbacks.
They took that form back with them onto the pitch for the second half, increasing their lead after fifty minutes when the outstanding Timmy Morrissey broke off the side of a scrum to cover some forty meters for the touchdown for the score of the game, with Richard Dunne landing the conversion to make it 31-7.
With Kidd going on to make it 34-8 from a penalty they went on to show their defensive qualities as they held a late Bangor surge through the final ten minutes managing to keep their line intact.
ENNISCORTHY: Ben Kidd; Richard dunne, Daniel Pim, Hugh O’Neill, David O’Dwyer; Ivan Poole, Arthur Dunne; M J Doyle, David Murphy, Paddy Waters; Tomas Stamp, Tom Ryan (captain); Nick Doyle, Brian Bolger, Timmy Morrissey. Replacements: Angelo Todisco for M J Doyle (10 mins);Cian Wickham for O’Dwyer (7); Liam Stamp for Stamp (65); Joe Carley for Morrissey (65); Andrew Redmond for Waters (70).