Delaney kicks Ross to victory
fully capitalised on the indiscipline of Wanderers around scrums and rucks to force kickable penalties.
This was in stark contrast to Wexford, who tried to run from deep in defence, but they neither had the passing skills nor pace out wide to capitalise on this.
A similar type game to that of New Ross would have paid greater dividends, as had they enjoyed more territory inside the home ’22 they had the power up front to drive their way towards more tries.
Understandably, New Ross came out with real fire in their play, driving Wanderers back deep in defence. From the first scrum referee William Murphy penalised the visitors, leaving Delaney to kick a penalty after just two minutes.
Wanderers’ lack of discipline came back to haunt them with the concession of two further penalties, one for infringing in a line-out and the second for handling the ball in a ruck. This left Delaney to slot over both kicks, giving New Ross a 9-0 lead after twelve minutes.
Wanderers still managed to hang in there, gradually working their way down the pitch, and they needed the next score or the game would have been totally gone from them.
Following some driving forward play they decided to go for the corner from a penalty, but New Ross, having lost the line-out, regained possession in the ensuing ruck to safely clear their lines.
Still pressing in search of their opening score, Wanderers moved the ball quickly along the New Ross ‘22 to create space out wide, and when the home side could not react quick enough, Robert Kenny dived over in the corner. Eoin Roche kicked the conversion, leaving it 9-7 after 35 minutes which was how it remained to the interval.
Instead of Wanderers taking the initiative on the re-start, New Ross continued to dominate territory, with Delaney making it 12-7 within three minutes of the re-start.
Following continuous pressure a further Delaney penalty in the 62nd minute helped New Ross to move 15-7 clear, with Wanderers now out of bonus point territory.
It provided a real challenge to the visitors. They managed to launch a couple of scrums and drives close to the New Ross line in the final minutes, but they were unable to breach the home defence who held out for the points to move them a step closer to the title and promotion. GOREY 62, NEW ROSS 5: On a beautiful day for rugby, Gorey Senior ladies welcomed New Ross to Gorey for their Leinster League Division 2 clash.
After a tough opening ten minutes when both defences held firm, Gorey finally made the breakthrough after some strong carries from the forwards.
The ball found its way to Niamh Doran who broke through the New Ross line to put Gorey on the scoreboard.
Gorey then went on the attack and again Niamh Doran broke through the line and scored for her second try.
New Ross then launched an attack but some tough defence from Gorey turned over the ball, allowing scrum-half Lauren Farrell to make the break and cross over the try line which was converted by Lorraine Gahan.
From the resulting re-start Gorey where awarded a scrum in midfield which led to some great play from the back line and resulted in Denise Deering crossing over to score a try which was converted by Lorraine Gahan.
New Ross, not lying down, fought hard to find a way into Gorey’s half and their determination was rewarded when they crossed over the try line just before half-time.
Gorey started the second-half the stronger team, going straight on the attack with Ciara Tomkins crossing over the try line which was again converted by Lorraine Gahan.
Again some great work from the Gorey forwards turned over the ball and they launched another attack, with the ball going wide to Niamh Doran who crossed over the line for her third try.
Just inside the Gorey half some great awareness from Lauren Farrell spotted a gap which allowed her to make a break and cross over for her second try which was converted by Nicola McGrath.
Again some great play from the Gorey defence led to a turnover which allowed them to launch another quick attack, with Niamh Doran again finding herself crossing for her fourth try.
Gorey from the re-start again went on the attack. Some strong carries from the forwards created the opportunity for the play to be spread wide to Nicola McGrath on the wing who crossed over the line.
Gorey’s last try came when captain Ciara Breen spotted a gap and broke from halfway to cross over the line. It was converted by Nicola McGrath.
In the closing minutes New Ross launched an attack but the Gorey defensive line held firm with some big tackles coming from Caoimhe Molloy, Valerie Conyard and Hazel Woods. The final score was Gorey 62, New Ross 5.
Gorey’s next game is away to Clondalkin on Sunday with a 1 p.m. kick-off.