Quick exit for Wanderers
THE WEXFORD Wanderers first XV hosted Naas at Park Lane on Sunday in the opening round of the 92nd Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup.
The fixture pitted Wanderers against one of the larger clubs in Leinster, and indeed Wexford faced the Naas second XV as their first team compete in A.I.L. Division 1B where they currently sit mid-table.
The conditions were challenging to say the least, and as late as 15 minutes before kick-off the pitch was being assessed to see if the fixture could safely take place. The game started with both sides struggling in the wet conditions.
After ten minutes Naas forced Wanderers back to their own try line and in one of the first scrums of the contest they pushed the Wexford pack back over the line for the opening try.
The second score came ten minutes later, with the Naas backs moving the ball rapidly across the line for their centre to score near the posts for a converted try.
However, at this stage Naas were well in charge and a burst of three converted tries in 15 minutes secured the win before the interval. At the turnaround the scoreline was 33-0 to the visitors.
In the second period Wanderers didn’t give up on the contest and, despite the conditions looking like something from a 1970s Five Nations match, they kept a fighting spirit through the half.
Indeed, the Wexford Wanderers side put together some good drives and runs, especially by wingers Casey and Kenny, and were unlucky not to score on a few occasions.
The strength of the Wexford defence, a facet of the team’s game that has been vastly improved, limited Naas to just one converted try in the second period before Wanderers’ tenacity paid off just before the end.
Following strong drives by captain Aidan Stewart, Darragh Kehoe and the lively Luke Roche, big John Turner squeezed over under a mass of bodies to leave a final scoreline of 40-5.
Wexford now have to look ahead to the Provincial Towns plate competition which will commence in the coming weeks before the league campaign resumes with a vengeance in March.
As a club the focus now switches to the second XV who travel to New Ross next Sunday for the opening round of the Provincial Towns Seconds Cup.
Players and supporters can certainly feel an extraordinary sense of déjà vu as both clubs’ second teams contested the league at the same venue less than two weeks ago, with Wanderers taking the honours on that occasion.
However, cup action is all or nothing and a thrilling no holds barred contest will certainly be the order of the day.
The action commences at 2.30 p.m. next Sunday, February 5, and local supporters are urged to get out and support the side.
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Wexford: Seán Redmond, Kevin Redmond, Dave Martin, Darragh Kehoe, John Turner, Tom Brennan, Luke Roche, Aidan Stewart (capt.), Kevin Roche, Eoin Roche, Robbie Kenny, Corey Carty, Shea Boggan, Robbie Casey, Paul Gannon. Subs. - Graham Grant, Colm O Corcora, Willie Morris, James Byrne, Nick Jones.