Wicklow firsts edge closer to promotion
WICKLOW RFC 45 MULLINGAR RFC 0
WICKLOW RFC’S first squad overcame a spirited Mullingar side at Ashtown Lane on Sunday to inch ever closer to the Holy Grail of promotion. The game was played on a dry, cool day with a strong breeze that favoured the Westmeath men in the first half.
Wicklow started like they meant business and a good try by the excellent Allen Byrne was just what the home side needed to settle the nerves and get the scoreboard ticking over. The conversion was missed but Wicklow led 5–0 after as many minutes.
Mullingar were clearly up for it and tore into Wicklow from the restart. Wicklow’s ferocious defence gradually wore them down and Niall Earls men were soon on the attack again. Shane Byrne drove over for a good score after twenty minutes. This time Earls made no mistake with the conversion and Wicklow led by 12–0.
Five minutes later the flying Dean Leonard scorched in for a good try in the corner. The difficult conversion was wide but Wicklow led 17–0.
Powerful work by the pack saw prop Shane Byrne drive over for his second and Wicklow’s fourth try after 35 minutes. Earls simple conversion made it 24–0 at half-time.
The second half started in much the same vein. Number eight Michael Doyle crashed over for a fine score. Niall Earls excellent kick made it 31–0 after five minutes of the second half. Mullingar looked in disarray and a very heavy defeat seemed on the cards.
To their credit they steadied the ship and gave as good as they got for much of the second half of the game . The second half was a scrappy affair. There were a number of injuries to both sides which upset the flow of the game. Three yellow cards were issued in what had descended into a niggly affair. A second yellow for a Mullingar man saw him being issued with his marching orders and a red card.
Wicklow finished the game in some style. Young Paddy Cullen who came on in the centre, powered over for a well taken try with five minutes on the clock. Earls kick made it 38–0.
Ben Armstrong rounded up the scoring with a taken try after some excellent work by the backs to leave the final score at 45–0 to Wicklow.
This win puts Wicklow in a strong position to go on and win the league. They are 14 points clear of nearest rivals Clondalkin with 15 points left to play for in the last three games.
Next week is likely to be the toughest fixture that Wicklow will face in the league this year with an away trip to Clondalkin.
Clondalkin will be gunning for Wicklow after losing a couple of crucial games last season. They have a powerful pack and an excellent kicker who knows every inch of the tight pitch. Wicklow will need to be firing on all cylinders to come away from West Dublin with anything.
A win will see them win the league and secure promotion to Division 1A of the Leinster League. The following week Niall Earls men face another massive game when they open their defence of the Provincial towns Cup with a difficult draw away to Kilkenny.
Wicklow’s seconds put in a strong performance against an under strength Mullingar side to keep their hopes of retaining their Leinster League title alive.
They were delighted to have some of the younger players perform so well on the day, especially Tom Maguire, Ian Heffernan and Paddy Cullen. Remarkably a win next week could put Wicklow seconds on top of the league.
First Squad: Eanna Killeen, Jack McKenna Shane Byrne, Fergal Walsh, John Jenkinson, Andrew Doyle, , Wes Wojnar, Mikey Doyle, Allen Byrne,, Niall Earls, Ben Armstrong, Shane Farrar, Ben Porter, Dean Leonard, Stephen Duffy. Subs: Mark Cullen, James Stafford, Seamus O’Brien, Russell Andrew, Paddy Cullen.