ROUND-UP Crunch clash this Saturday
RUGBY Enniscorthy to host Gorey
WITH TWO minutes to go, out-half Ivan Poole slotted over a penalty kick to ensure the Leinster League Division 1A victory at Kilternan on Saturday.
Enniscorthy got what they wanted, a bonus point win, to keep them just four points behind the leaders with three games left.
They scored six excellent tries and should have had it wrapped up when they went 32-18 ahead midway through the second-half. They conceded two soft tries after that due to lack of concentration, and this will irritate them.
D.L.S.P. went ahead early on with a penalty and this was matched by a kick from Poole after ten minutes. Enniscorthy scored their first try with 20 minutes gone.
Tight head prop Tony White broke through two tackles and off-loaded to centre Killian Lett. A smart release from him set Ivan Jacob free and he beat two defenders to crash over in the right corner. Poole converted from the touchline.
Jacob struck again when he entered the line between centres and ran in under the posts from 20 metres.
D.L.S.P. responded with a penalty kick and an excellent try in the left corner after their Kiwi centre, Tuhakaraina, cut through the middle.
Just on half-time the Wexford men swept down the left side, and when Ross Barbour released wing David O’Dwyer, his speed won the day for a fine try. This left the score 22-11 to the visitors at the interval.
Hugh O’Neill was now on for Daniel Pim who retired injured, and scrum-half Arthur Dunne replaced Evan Lett who was also injured.
D.L.S.P. struck first with a good try through their backs on the left wing. Soon after prop Angelo Todisco charged for the line and as he was tackled five metres out he off-loaded to fellow prop Tony White who barged over for a super front row try.
Five minutes later lock Tomás Stamp touched down after a quick penalty taken by Killian Lett.
Enniscorthy looked to be coasting at this stage but the hosts’ excellent centre, Tukaharaina, struck to score a wonderful try with a break through the centres.
Enniscorthy now upped the tempo again and a break down the left from Lett and White saw Hugh O’Neill score the visitors’ last try.
And yet again back came D.L.S.P. as they scored from well inside their own half, after a series of missed tackles from the visitors, to put them within five points. Poole’s penalty just on time sealed it for Enniscorthy.
Enniscorthy’s performance improved a lot from the previous week, but their defence will have to tighten up if they are to remain challengers for the league title.
Enniscorthy now play near neighbours Gorey in the league next Saturday (2.30 p.m.) at the Ross Road.
Team: Angelo Todisco, David Murphy, Tony White, John Daly, Tomás Stamp, Tom Ryan, Greg Jacob, Nick Doyle, Evan Lett, Ivan Poole, David O’Dwyer, Daniel Pim (capt.), Killian Lett, Ivan Jacob, Ross Barbour. Subs. - Hugh O’Neill for Pim (30), Arthur Dunne for E. Lett (50), Joe Bulmer for Daly (60), Ronnie White for I Jacob (65), James Doyle.
Gorey 20, Kilkenny 3: The Gorey J1s had a crunch game at home to Kilkenny on Saturday. Both teams were in search of crucial points as we near the business end of the season.
On an ideal day for rugby, and despite their good win away to Dundalk the previous weekend, Gorey knew from the word go that Kilkenny would be hard nut to crack as a win would get them out of the relegation zone.
Both teams started at a high tempo with neither making any great ground, but Gorey were the first to raise a flag with a James Nolan penalty.
Kilkenny were working hard and trying to move the ball wide at every opportunity, but this was generally from their own territory. Eventually they did kick down field, and the ball was caught by full-back Dave Shanahan.
He took off back towards the Kilkenny line, weaving in and out of would-be tacklers to somehow find his way under the posts for a fine individual try, which James Nolan converted, to extend Gorey’s lead to 10-0.
On 35 minutes Kilkenny applied consistent good pressure and, after a Gorey infringement, were awarded a penalty to reduce the lead to 10-3. Half-time arrived with Gorey just about deserving their lead.
The re-start saw Gorey immediately on the attack and within two minutes another James Nolan penalty extended their lead to 13-3.
Gorey were starting to edge the exchanges as the pack to a man took the game to the visitors, but the Kilkenny defence was proving hard to break down.
Tremendous work by the pack saw Gorey move the ball through the hands for Mark Whelan to cross for what looked like a certain try, only for the referee to adjudge the ball was held up.
Shortly after that Phil de Barra again crossed the line for a certain try, only for the referee to call it back for a Gorey scrum when the score should have been allowed.
But if you keep knocking at the door eventually someone will open it, and in the final minutes Stephen Duke finally put the game to bed, after good inter-changing between backs and forwards saw him run in for James Nolan to convert.
The score of 20-3 was how it ended but this game was a lot tighter than that might suggest as Kilkenny never gave up.
Gorey had some big performers in the backs with James Nolan, Stephen Duke and David Shannon the pick.
The front row to a man were immense along with Ben Horan, while Darragh O’Leary got the nod for man of the match.
Next weekend sees Gorey make the short journey to near neighbours Enniscorthy for what is always a ding-dong battle between these sides. Kick-off is 2.30 p.m. at Ross Road.
Gorey: R. Deering, B. O’Connor, D. Bellanova, D. O’Leary, A. Bond, M. Whelan, B. Horan, J.P. Redmond, S. Horan, S. Duke, A. Walsh, J. Nolan, G. Rynhart, J. Butterworth, D. Shannon, E. Walsh, S. Triggs, J. Mulligan, S. Hadden, P. de Barra.