MASSIVE VICTORY
Wicklow claim Gorey scalp with superb showing
Division 1A WICKLOW RFC GOREY RFC
Ashbourne Dundalk Enniscor thy Wicklow De La Salle P Gorey Boyne Monkstown
P W
10 10 9 10 10 10 9 10 7 7 7 4 4 4 4 2
D
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 63 3 56 2 119 6 17 6 -66 6 -10 5 -56 8 -123 8 6 4 6 5 3 3 2
21 3
WICKLOW’S first team got back to winning ways with a hard-fought win over a tough Gorey side at Ashtown lane on Saturday.
Having been dragged into a bit of a dogfight at the lower end of the table, both teams were aware of how crucial a win would be. Two fired up sides took the field on a bitterly cold day with a strong Northerly crosswind that made goal kicking very difficult.
The game was preceded by a minutes silence for long-time WRFC member and friend Dermot Costello who passed away last week.
The match was played in front of a healthy crowd, in dry but bitterly cold conditions.
The bitter crosswind aided Gorey in the first half. Wicklow started well and an early spell of pressure led to a penalty and a shot at goal from Brian Keegan.
Not for the first time the wind pushed the attempted kick wide. Wicklow continued to exert pressure in the early stages but it was stalemate for the first half an hour as solid Gorey defence held Wicklow out.
A rare foray into Wicklow territory on the half hour mark brought the first score of the game. Wicklow captain John Jenkinson was penalised and harshly sent to the bin for a high tackle. The resultant penalty was successful and
L SD BP Pts
36 34 32 22 21 19 19 10 Wicklow’s Ben Porter bursts past Gorey’s Stephen Duke during the J1 League in Ashtown Lane, Wicklow. Photos: Garry O’Neill
Gorey led 0–3 with 10 minutes to the break.
Wicklow responded well and were soon level when a Brian Keegan penalty made the score 3–3.
Wicklow upped the pace again and were in front for the first time when a Gorey infringement led to a Keegan penalty. 6–3 to Wicklow and Gorey had a man sent to the bin.
Wicklow had their tails up now and surged back into the Gorey 22 with a brilliant break by Billy Ngawini. With the try line at their mercy Wicklow failed to score and the half ended at 6–3 in favour of the home side.
A good start to the second half saw Wicklow with the majority of the pressure. Another kick at goal went narrowly wide before a brilliant breakaway try put Wicklow clear with twenty minutes remaining.
As Gorey attacked a turnover on their own 22 saw Wicklow move the ball wide. The excellent Shane Farrar put Ben Porter clear. A two on one with Dean Leonard and Ben Porter facing the Gorey full back. Leonard seemed certain to score bu a clever dummy from Porter and the big centre powered over for an excellent try. Keegans tricky conversion made it 13 – 3 and Wicklow had a little breathing space.
The wind was causing havoc with both lineouts. Eanna Killeen was having a field day at the back of the Wicklow lineout hoovering up four or five over throws from a misfiring Gorey set piece.
Wicklow extended their lead when the outstanding Jonathan Hopkins forced a turnover penalty on the Gorey 22 in front of the posts. Keegans fine kick made it 16–6 with ten minutes remaining.
Wicklow piled the pressure on
now and Shane Farrar sealed the win when he intercepted a loose pass and powered over close to the posts to score a well deserved try. The conversion attempt was missed but Wicklow led 21–3 with five minutes plus injury time on the clock.
Wicklow finished the game out comfortably enough and the score remained at 21–3 when the referee blew the final whistle. This was an excellent team performance from this Wicklow side who outfought and out played a tough Gorey unit.
This result, the loss of DLSP to Monkstown and the cancellation of the Boyne-Enniscorthy game meant that Wicklow moved up three places to fourth in the league. Four games remain. Each one a tough fixture starting with Enniscorthy away next Saturday. Kick off is at 1pm and 2.30pm.
Eanna Killeen, Jack McKenna, Neil Dickenson, John
First XV:
Jenkinson, Liam Gaffney, Eoin O’Sullivan, Jonathan Hopkins, George Naoupu,, Billy Ngawini, Brian Keegan, Dean Leonard, Ben Porter, Shane Farrar, Ben Armstrong, Stephen Duffy, Subs Stephen Swan, Alan Byrne, Mark Cullen, Alex Porter, Simon Breen.