Seconds fight back for another bite of cherry
WICKLOW 2NDS ENNISCORTHY 2NDS 25 25
WICKLOW’S second team took on a fine Enniscorthy side in the delayed playing of the 2015/16 South East final at Ashtown Lane on Sunday.
Enniscorthy are the reigning seconds cup and league champions and hadn’t been beaten in two years.
The visitors got off to a great start with a try from a series of pick and drives . The conversion was missed but the Wexford men lead by 0–5.
Wicklow replied with a penalty from Alex Porter before a breakaway try put Enniscorthy 3–12 up.
Wicklow began to take the game by the scruff of the neck and were rewarded when Ronan Monahan dived over beneath the posts for a well taken try. Porter’s conversion made it 10–12.
A penalty just before half time left it at 10–15 at the break.
Enniscorthy were in charge in the early stages of the second half and scored another penalty to make it 10–18.
Wicklow bounced back with a fantastic team try which was scored by the excellent David Nicholson. A brilliant conversion from Alex Porter made it 17–18 to Enniscorthy.
Porter put Wicklow in front 20–18 with a penalty close to the posts after some good pressure by the home side.
Wicklow attacked again and seemed in control of the game when a drop kick was blocked down and Enniscorthy went 75 metres to score under the posts. The conversion made it 20–25 with less than ten remaining.
Wicklow didn’t panic and attacked again and again. They knew they would get one more chance and so it came. The ball moved wide after some powerful work by the pack.
It came to Ken Copeland 10 metres out. There are few better players when it comes to getting over the line in a confined space. Copeland battered his way through three Enniscorthy defenders to score in the corner.
Ashtown Lane erupted. Wicklow had a kick to win but with a strong crosswind it proved too much.
The score was 25–25 and the referee blew the final whistle.
The game is due to be replayed in the coming weeks at a date to be confirmed.
This was a fantastic game of rugby played by two good sides early in the season. Wicklow have some real up and coming stars in David Nicholson, Stefan Nixon and Alex Porter and the veteran centre partnership of Gary Duffy and Ken Copeland really caught the eye. Man of the match was the outstanding Brian Quinn.
Wicklow travel away to Tullow in two weeks with both firsts and seconds in the Leinster League. KO at 1.30pm and 3pm.
Squad: Neill Dickenson, Stefan Nixon, David Quinn, Ronan Monahan, Liam Hughes, Jonny Watchorn, Niall Higgins, Ronan Monahan, Tom Downes, Alex Porter, Brian Quinn, Gary Duffy, Ken Copeland, Daniel Higgins, Alan Byrne, Paddy James on.