Strong defence crucial
ENNISCORTHY RUGBY’S Under-18 girls had to put in a huge defensive shift at a very wet and windy Tullamore to make it seven wins from seven in Division 1 of the Leinster League.
It was fitting that the best player on the pitch, Enniscorthy’s impressive openside Anna Nolan, clinched the victory with a superb try with the last play of the game.
With the game in injury time and Enniscorthy only two points ahead, a great tackle by replacement wing Leah Doran followed by a ruck turnover from the impressive Ciara Boland paved the way for Nolan to score wide on the right after a powerful 60-metre run.
Nolan, along with her determined back row partners Rachel Murphy and Lucy Egan, put in a huge shift and they were well supported by captain Katie Foley and her second row partner, Ciara O’Leary.
Both locks played big parts in the away side’s two first-half tries which made such a difference to the eventual outcome.
Tullamore open the scoring after only two minutes when a great last-ditch tackle by Lauren
Delaney was not enough to prevent a try from the well-drilled home team.
Delaney herself came close to scoring on a couple of occasions with great breaks after good passing from half-backs Katie Whelan and Aoife Codd put her in space.
Despite the terrible conditions, both teams, to their immense credit, demonstrated handling skills of the highest order.
Late in the first-half, the Slaneysiders hit a purple patch with two quickfire tries.
Hooker Mikayla O’Leary, with a trademark burst up the middle, supported by hard-running centre Mia Kelly, opened the way for Laura Doyle to show great awareness to score her first-ever try, with Kelly converting.
Doyle, who typically tackled everything that moved, suffered a serious knee injury early in the second-half and was replaced by Jessica Wickham who had a fine game.
Five minutes later, Rachel Murphy benefited from good rucking by Taragh Cooper to power over wide on the left.
The conversion was missed, leaving Enniscorthy with an advantage of seven points to take into the second period.
After dominating that opening half and going 12-5 up, the Wexford girls were under the cosh for the entire second period as Tullamore came at them in waves of attacks.
The Offaly side’s backs showed great handling skills to score in the left corner early in the half to make it 12-10, and that early score gave them the impetus and the confidence to really have a go.
It was all hands to the pumps and wave after wave of attacks were stopped by Erin Cahill, Hollie Kelly and Bonnie Kinnaird. This great defence paved the way for Nolan to seal the win with the last play of the game.
While delighted with the win and the bravery in defence by the whole team, the Ross Road mentors will be concerned with the fact that their team failed to retain possession for long periods in the second-half despite having been in control for most of the first period.
On the plus side, not many teams come away from Tullamore with a victory, albeit, a very hardearned one.
Well done to both teams for a great game in horrible conditions, highlighting their impressive skill sets despite the elements.
Team: Laura Doyle (Jessica Wickham, 35), Mikayla O’Leary, Taragh Cooper, Ciara O’Leary (Aibhe Farrell, 55), Katie Foley (capt.), Lucy Egan, Anna Nolan, Rachel Murphy, Katie Whelan, Aoife Codd, Hollie Kelly (Erin Cahill, 35), Mia Kelly, Ciara Boland, Bonnie Kinnaird (Leah Doran, 40), Lauren Delaney. Subs. - Orla McCauley, Fiona Cousins.