Wanderers lose play-off

THE WEXFORD Wanderers first XV travelled to neutral Tullow on Sunday to play Newbridge in the Division 2A/2B play-off of the Leinster League.

Wanderers had secured second place behind champions New Ross in Division 2B on the back of an impressive dispatching of Ardee two weeks previously at Park Lane on a scoreline of 71-0.

With Roscrea automatically relegated, Wanderers had to wait until Division 2A played out its final act to see who they would face in the play-off. The game started well with both sides competing across the park.

First blood, however, went to Newbridge who were awarded a penalty after five minutes and opted to take the points into a stiff breeze. Such was the tight margins between the teams that the next score didn’t come until 20 minutes later when Newbridge scored an unconverted try beside the left touchline to increase the gap to eight.

However, within the next ten minutes Wanderers reduced the deficit with two penalties from Waters to narrow the gap. On the stroke of half-time though, Newbridge kicked a penalty to give them an 11-6 lead at the interval.

In the second period Wanderers started to utilise the bench, with both Rowe and Martin entering the fray to add some fresh impetus at the breakdown. Newbridge, however, kept the scoreboard creeping away from Wanderers with penalties on the 65th and 70th minutes.

During this period Wanderers kepton pushing and both wingers were unlucky not to get away on numerous occasions. Indeed, Casey’s day was over when he was cynically tackled after making almost a clean breakaway which resulted in a Newbridge player getting ten minutes in the bin.

Wanderers failed to capitalise on the penalty opportunities afforded and on such margins games are lost. The match had a final score for Wanderers, in almost a carbon copy of Newbridge’s try, when they worked off a five-metre scrum and drove for the line through a number of phases before the referee adjudged that Newbridge had deliberately fouled the breakdown to prevent a Wexford try.

He awarded the penalty try which Waters slotted home to reduce the score to 17-13 with just minutes remaining. However, with only 14 players left, Newbridge controlled the clock and held out against the odds to deny Wanderers at the death.

Thus the 2016/2017 Leinster League campaign ended with Wanderers securing second place in Division 2B but failing to gain promotion through the play-off. However, the final team selection for the Leinster League next season all depends on what happens in the A.I.L. where a number of teams are at risk of relegation, and a battle royale will be engaged to decide who will take their place.

Next up for Wanderers is a trip to Longford on Sunday in the second round of the Provincial Towns Plate which will see Wanderers again pitted against another Division 2A side, in this case the champions.

It will be a tough ask of Wanderers but this side has the ability and the hunger to take a result from the fixture and to progress in the Plate.

In other news, the Wanderers J2 and J3 sides will host a cup double-header on April 9 at Park Lane when they take on Tullow. The J3 side will play in the Anderson Cup at 2 p.m., while the J2 team will play in the Provincial Seconds Town Cup quarter-final at 4 p.m.

This is the first time Wanderers have competed at this level in over a generation and your support will of course be appreciated. Club supporters are advised to monitor the club social media outlets for updates on this and other fixtures.

Team: Aidan Stewart (capt.), Graham Grant, James Byrne, Darragh Kehoe, John Turner, Luke Roche, Carthaigh Geoghegan, Tom Brennan, Kevin Roche, Eoin Roche, Robbie Casey, Shea Boggan, Richie Waters, Robbie Kenny, Paul Gannon. Subs. - Seán Redmond, John Rowe, Dave Martin, Kevin Redmond, Tommy Hudson.