Enniscorthy hold off revival
Scintillating first-half laid platform for bonus point win
ONLOOKERS COULD hardly have anticipated the second-half turnaround as Enniscorthy - having enjoyed a dominant opening 40 minutes - were rocked right back on their heels and had to defend their lead before clinching a bonus point victory with the final play of the game in this excellent AIL Division 2C game in Alcast Park on Saturday.
It was a bitterly cold afternoon, but Enniscorthy had made light of the weather as they turned up the temperature with an opening half that was without doubt their best period of rugby since their elevation to Senior club status.
The awesome skill levels in the side were utilised to the full as they demonstrated in emphatic fashion why they are top of the table with three tries of real quality.
They ripped the visitors’ defensive set-up to shreds with excellent inter-play involving both the pack and backs.
When they went in at the break with a 19-point cushion, it was a lead they richly deserved as they dominated that opening half.
They delivered quality ball from a pack that controlled the scrums, while the quick ruck ball was utilised to the fullest as the back row trio of Nick Doyle, Timmy Morrissey and Tom Ryan set the platform with their pick and driving runs for a back line that made full use of the quick, quality supply provided.
Enniscorthy and their Leinster rivals had served up many a real battle in their Junior days, but for 40 minutes it looked as if the home side had taken full advantage of their impressive start to life in the AIL.
This confidence was demonstrated in impressive fashion as they sucked the life out of their opponents, setting up a dominance that looked set to leave them as handsome winners.
The hosts’ dominance was taken away from them on the resumption as Tullamore were a rejuvenated outfit.
And when they got back within two points of their opponents with seven minutes remaining, the home supporters, not for the first time this season, were left on a knife edge.
But as they have demonstrated in their games to date, there is great fight in this Enniscorthy side and they battled back to claim a bonus point try with the final play of the game, while also denying the visitors – who sit mid-table – their own bonus point in the process.
There was quite an eventful start to the game. Tullamore controlled possession through the opening five minutes as they camped inside the home side’s ‘22, but solid defensive play denied them a score as they were held short of the line.
With out-half Craig Stronge missing out on a penalty to give them the lead, Enniscorthy capitalised in the following passage of play.
Following a sucessful line-out, the Enniscorthy pack broke in numbers and, after a great move involving both pack and backs, second row Tomás Stamp got on the end of a delightful move to crash over for a try close to the touchline.
With Ivan Poole adding an excellent conversion, the home side now found themselves with a 7-0 lead.
Three minutes later a Poole penalty extended that advantage, but even better was to follow in the 24h minute.
Centre Hugh O’Neill cut clean through the centre of midfield and linked up with Daniel Pim, and the centre created space to send Ivan Jacob over for an excellent try, one of their best moves of the season. And with Poole adding the conversion, they now led 17-0 after 24 minutes.
Errors were abounding in the Tullamore play as they came under increasing pressure, but they managed to lift the siege for Stronge to kick a 29th-minute penalty.
Eight minutes before the break, a dominant Enniscorthy continued to pressurise the visitors and, following a well-controlled drive, David Murphy was credited with the touchdown close to the corner.
Poole was narrowly wide with a difficult conversion but it was still Enniscorthy who led 22-3 at the interval, a margin which did not flatter them in any way such was their dominance of that opening period.
While it appeared as if Enniscorthy would go on to an emphatic victory, Tullamore were a transformed side on the resumption, and that showed in the early passages of play.
Within six minutes of the restart, centre Josu Arrubarena-Carrillo was put in for a try following a Conor Dunne break, but Stronge was wide with the conversion.
This was an early warning for the league leaders, but after 44 minutes big second row Ciarán Ennis added a further try, with Stronge’s conversion attempt rebounding off the post. The visitors were now right back in the game, trailing 22-13.
A Poole penalty helped to ease the home side’s nerves, leaving them leading 25-13, but when scrum-half Brian Gilligan got over for an intercept try that Stronge converted, which he followed with a 73rd-minute penalty, the result was right in the balance as the Enniscorthy lead had been reduced to 25-23.
Enniscorthy bounced back and met the challenge with some strong forward play. In the final minutes they camped on the visitors’ line, forcing three penalties before replacement tight head prop Angelo Todisco was on the bottom of a driving maul over the line. The referee awarded the try, that Poole converted, giving them the bonus point which was to prove so vital.
Enniscorthy: Richard Dunne; Ivan Jacob, Daniel Pim, Hugh O’Neill, David O’Dwyer; Ivan Poole, Arthur Dunne; Paddy Waters, David Murphy, M.J. Doyle; Tomás Stamp, Joe Carley; Nick Doyle, Timmy Morrissey, Tom Ryan (capt.). Replacements - Billy Wickham for Jacob (63), Niall Parker for Carley (63), Angelo Todisco for Ryan (73).
Tullamore: Karl Dunne; Seán McCabe, Conor Dunne, Josu Arrubarena-Carrillo, Cathal Farrell; Craig Stronge, Brian Gilligan; Eamonn Bracken, Cathal Feighery, Shane Fleming; Ciarán Ennis, Kevin Browne; Stephen Pyke, Barry Bracken, Gavin Ridgeway. Replacements - Keelan Feely for Bracken (15), Bracken for Feely (34), Feely for Bracken (39), Shane Brennan for McCabe ( 39).
Referee: John Flynn (A.R.L.B.).