’STONES ARE KINGS
Queens are put to the sword by impressive home side
GREYSTONES pulled themselves up two places of the Ulster Bank League Division 2A table to head into the Christmas break lying seventh following an emphatic bonus point victory over a talented Queens University side at Dr Hickey Park last Saturday.
This win secured back to back victories over the students and with it five valuable league points leaving the Wicklow men on 16 points one ahead of local rivals Blackrock in eight with the two Galway sides Corinthians and Galwegians propping up the table and sets up a mouth-watering encounter with Blackrock when they return to league action on January 6th at Dr Hickey Park.
Before a ball was kicked in this match head coach Kevin Lewis was forced into a late change when influential out half Andrew Kealy pulled up with a calf strain and the versatile David Baker stepped in to the number 10 jersey allowing the speedster Ferdia Kenny a rare start on the wing.
Having being punished by the accuracy of Kealy’s boot on the previous weekend in Belfast the Queens squad might have allowed themselves a wry smile when they read the teamsheet but they soon found out talent lies deep in this Greystones squad.
The starting backline with the pace of in form Paudie Geoghegan on the left wing, Kenny on the right and Jack Keating in the centre orchestrated by Baker at outhalf proved too hot to handle for this youthful Queens side who were cut open as early as the fourth minute by a solo effort from Keating who danced through the defence from inside his own half to race clear and touch down under the posts. Baker slotted the conversion for an early seven point lead.
Queens responded five minutes later when centre Bell exploited a gap for what looked a soft try touched down in the corner, McMaster missing the conversion.
This setback simply emboldened Greystones whose forwards were to lay the platform throughout the afternoon for the backs to shine.
Mike Doyle, growing in confidence with every game following his step up from junior rugby with Wicklow in the summer put in some hard tackles setting the Queens offence back on their heels.
Doyle was joined by the irrepressible Robin O’Sullivan and Cormac O’Donoghue who popped up for Greystones second try on 15 minutes.
With the pack driving at the Queens line and strong carries by Conor Pearse and Ben Tou, it was O’Donoghue who found the space and crossed for the touchdown. Baker was unfortunate to see his conversion attempt rebound off the upright.
Greystones extended their lead with two tries from Kenny in a blistering five minute spell when he burned the Queens defenders who simply had no answer to his sprinting abilities.
Once again the forwards put in the hard yards to make ground up the middle and it was Keating in the centre who found Kenny on the right wing using his considerable pace to leave the defenders for dead as he raced to the corner.
His second was largely a carbon copy of the first as he once again found himself with space to run at Queens and beat several defenders to touch down close to the posts.
Queens grabbed a second but Greystones were buoyant and 2412 up with the try bonus secured by half time.
Greystones added two more tries in the second half as they ran Queens ragged.
Baker grabbed a try of his own which he duly converted and Keating finished as he started with his second once again leaving the Queens defence in his wake to touch down in the corner on the stroke of full time.
Queens main option in attack was to hoist the high ball from defence and while he may not have been on the score sheet Paudie Geoghegan had a hugely impressive showing, putting his Gaelic football skills to great effect as he completely dominated in the air throughout the afternoon leaping high to gather ball after ball turning defence into quick counter attack.
After a difficult opening to the league, disrupted by injury to key members of the squad Greystones are beginning to find their rhythm and show the type of free scoring performances that led them to be crowned Division 2B champions last season.
Coach Kevin Lewis has been very impressed by the players who have come into the team and grown into their positions but is nevertheless looking forward to one or two more returning from injury to add to his options before the January showdown with local rivals Blackrock.