ASHBOURNE WICKLOW
WICKLOW RFC’S under-14s have a large squad of 36 boys and many have been playing together for Wicklow since they were six years of age. This talented squad had a successful first foray into competitive youths rugby last season, winning the Popplewell Cup, the South East Cup and the Leinster Premier League.
With such a large squad it can be difficult to get game time for everyone so the coaches took the decision to enter a team in the Leinster Premier League which is played on Saturdays, but also to enter a second team into the Schools and Youths league which is played on Sundays.
The goal of entering the Schools and Youths league was to try and get consistent game time for the boys who don’t always feature on the Saturday squad and to allow the few boys who are playing schools rugby to continue to play for their home club.
It has been a difficult challenge at times and has been far from plain sailing.
The squad trains together as one, but the Sunday team are very tight for numbers. Usually the boys who are on the bench on the Saturday, have to sometimes double up on the Sunday team, but there has been great support from the parents and the boys to make it work.
There have been some good wins and some difficult outings so far this season. Sunday was a memorable day.
The team travelled to Co Meath to take on Ashbourne in the first round of the cup.
It was bitterly cold and as the warm-up progressed a passing hailstorm made things worse. The game kicked off with the wind at Wicklow’s backs.
Ashbourne were a physically big team and started much the stronger. Five minutes in and Wicklow found themselves 7–0 down. Worse was to come for Wicklow as a second try came on the 15-minute mark to make it 12–0.
Wicklow got their first try of the day when some good work by the forwards saw centre Tom Murray power through for a great try. The conversion from Jack McCall made it 12–7.
Wicklow sat back a little and let Ashbourne run at them. Their big men made good ground before some nice footwork saw their full back slice through hand score their third try. The conversion made it 19–7 at half time and facing into the wind, Wicklow seemed in some trouble.
To their credit Wicklow didn’t let their heads drop. They started to hit rucks and hang on to the ball. Cian Byrne was controlling things well at ten and his clever kicks kept Ashbourne on the back foot. Early in the second half Tom Murray powered through to score a brilliant try. Jack McCall’s conversion made it 19 – 14 and it was game on.
Five minutes later a barnstorming run by TJ Kennedy brought Wicklow deep into Ashbourne territory.
The ball was recycled and some good work by the pack saw the marauding Will Fitzpatrick dive over to score. The conversion put Wicklow in front for the first time at 19 – 21.
A shellshocked Ashbourne were struggling to contain Wicklow
Nathan Reynolds, TJ Kennedy, Stephen Tobin Kelly, Findlay Davies, Jonathan Fleming, Cuan Beirne, Will Fitzpatrick, Jack McCall, William Clarke, Cian Byrne, Ben Harris, Tom Murray, Theo Pennell, Jack Macklin, George Shearer, Luca Sturlesi, Darragh Carey, Luke Dunne.