Draw and win for U-13s
ENNISCORTHY TULLOW 17 17
AFTER TWO games these two Under-13 sides still can’t be separated, drawing 0-0 six weeks ago and 17-17 in the South-East League recently at Ross Road.
Enniscorthy led 12-0 at the break after scoring a well-worked try by Cian Dobbs before a super team try put Connell Kelly over the line in the corner.
However, in typical Tullow style the opposition didn’t lie down and came back strong in the second-half to level the game at 12-12 with some hard running.
Enniscorthy then responded immediately with another great team try by Connell Kelly to leave them 17-12 ahead. Tullow levelled the game with another try five minutes from the end.
Enniscorthy played most of the rugby and will be disappointed to draw, but will learn a valuable lesson about the importance of a strong defence from this game.
Enniscorthy attacked with purpose all day and Jack Kavanagh managed the game well at number 10.
Cian Dobbs, Dylan Butler and Pádraig Waters were the pick of the forwards with Connell Kelly and Jack Hennessy standing out in a much-improved back line performance.
Enniscorthy: Jack Hennessy, Connell Kelly, Rhyan Whelan, Seán Guiney, Joe Doyle, Jack Kavanagh, Tommi Cahill, Gavin O’Connor, Jack Whelan, Eoin Sheridan-Pope, Pádraig Waters, Killian Hanrahan, Cian Dobbs, Brian Lett, Dylan Butler. Replacements - Lee Quigley for O’Connor (HT), Conor Hassey for Hanrahan (HT), also Seán Doyle, Jason Sheridan, Rory Lynch, Cormac Brophy, Brandon Cloake, Dannan Long, Niall Warren, Luke Wheelock, Tomás Guiney, Dylan Purcell, Nathan Kelly.
Enniscorthy 38, Kilkenny 21: Disappointed after only drawing to Tullow at home the previous week, Enniscorthy dominated their game against Kilkenny under lights at Ross Road.
Great running by centres Seán Guiney and Joe Doyle brought the ball to the Kilkenny ‘22 and Rhyan Whelan handed off two defenders to score under the posts and give the home side an early lead on three minutes.
From the re-start, full-back Jack Hennessy ran through the defence and was just stopped five metres short.
Two minutes later, second row Cody Denton received the ball on the ‘22 and powered through five Kilkenny defenders to score in the corner, leaving the home side 12-0 up after seven minutes.
With ten minutes to go to halftime, Enniscorthy produced a great running movement which saw the openside flanker Cian Dobbs-Doyle carry very strongly, breaking two tackles to touch down under the posts and leave the home side 19-0 up.
Kilkenny then exploited some handling errors and ran in a nice try on 20 minutes which was converted, leaving the score 19-7.
Enniscorthy ran the ball very well and kept possession to power over the Kilkenny line under the posts, only to see number 8 Dylan Butler held up.
Enniscorthy continued to carry the ball strongly, and again second row Cody Denton was at the back of the pack which mauled over the Kilkenny line, with Cody’s try and the conversion bringing the score to 26-7 at half-time.
Enniscorthy made two replacements at half-time with Lee Quigley (prop) and second row Brian Lett coming into the team. Just after the re-start Kilkenny dominated the first two to three minutes and were rewarded with a well-worked try.
However, with the score now 2614, the home side opted to make a large number of changes and brought on twelve more replacements over the next 15 minutes.
Right wing Rhyan Whelan ran in his second try to leave the score 31-14 before Kilkenny intercepted a pass from the substitute scrumhalf and raced through under the posts to bring the score back to 31-21.
Then, after some great running and passing, outside centre Joe Doyle sold a great dummy to shrug off the Kilkenny defence and score in the corner.
With six tries and Jack Hennessy kicking four conversions, Enniscorthy ended on 50 minutes deserving winners 38-21 after a sporting game.
The Enniscorthy forwards really shone with Cody Denton and Dylan Butler the stars of the pack.
Team: Jack Hennessy (Dannan Long, 45), Rhyan Whelan, Joe Doyle (Tommi Cahill, 45), Seán Guiney (David Nolan, 45), Connell Kelly (Tomás Guiney, 40), Jack Kavanagh (Jason Sheridan, 40), Adam Power (Seán Doyle, 35), Eoin Sheridan-Pope (Cillian Hanrahan, 35), 2 Gavin O’Connor (Lee Quigley, HT), Jack Whelan (Rory Lynch, 45), Cody Denton (Brian Lett, HT), Dylan Purcell (Luke Wheelock, 35), Pádraig Waters (Brandon Cloake, 45), Cian Dobbs-Doyle (Conor Hassey, 40), Dylan Butler (Cormac Brophy, 45).