Vixens get back on track

AFTER A narrow 13-10 defeat in Arklow in the third game of the season, the Wexford Wanderers Senior women, the Vixens, vowed not to let the same happen again. On Sunday they followed through.

While the Wexford women are known for their formidable pack and in particular their unbeatable maul, it was the back seven who were the stars of the show.

The game was opened with a try for out-half Siobhán Cloake, whose pace is rarely matched on the rugby or football fields.

Máire Rowe, Wexford’s leading try scorer, was equally on form and added another two tries in quick succession, the second of which was successfully converted by Cloake.

After a stoppage for an Arklow injury, the visiting women battered the Wexford defence for the remainder of the first-half, and a penalty at five metres out was run and touched down just over the line, ending the half 17-5 to Wexford.

The second-half was again dominated by Wexford, with Máire Rowe dancing in for her hat-trick and 13th try of the season. Cloake converted with ease.

The game intensified from there and discipline suffered with Wexford down to 13 players at one point with two in the bin. Arklow took advantage of the weakened side and pushed the Wexford line but couldn’t muster the strength to make it over.

After several phases when the clock had gone dead, Wexford’s Aine Whelan finally managed to get hands on and get the ball out of play. The final whistle blew with a score of Wexford Wanderers Vixens 24, Arklow 5.