Seconds see off Newbridge in super start
Andy Doyle in fine form
WICKLOW RFC NEWBRIDGE RFC 62 12
WICKLOW’S second squad started their 2018 cup campaign with a resounding win against a shellshocked Newbridge side at Ashtown Lane on Sunday.
Wicklow got off to the best possible start when number 8 Lorcan Smullen crossed for a try in the first two minutes.
Allen Byrne who set up the try with a brilliant kick chase, added the extras and Wicklow led early on by 7–0.
Alan Byrne scored a try of his own soon afterwards after a great break by Jonathan Hopkins to make it 12–0 after ten minutes.
Winger Tim Spencer scored an absolute peach of a try, beating three defenders from 60 metres out to dot down between the posts. Byrnes conversion made it 19–0 after half an hour.
Soon afterwards prop Stephen Swan powered over for a good try to make it 24–0 after 35 minutes. Wicklows pack added a fifth try off a driving maul and another Byrne conversion made it 31–0.
Newbridge woke up and scored a try of their own on the stroke of half time to make it 31–7.
The visitors showed brief signs of making a game of it early in the second half when the scored another try to make it 31–12.
Their revival was shortlived however as Jay Byrne scored to make it 38-14.
Soon afterwards Wicklow were completely out of sight when impressive replacement centre Sean Duffy burst through to score an excellent try to make it 43– 2.
Two tries by the excellent Alex Porter made it 57–12 and veteran winger Russel Andrew showed he has still got it with a brilliant effort to round off the scoring at 62– 2.
Man of the match was the outstanding Andy Doyle who showed no ill effects of a long injury lay off with an absolute barnstorming performance.
This was an excellent Wicklow performance by a team that is starting to show some real form. They have the talent to go far in the cup but face a tricky away tie to Wexford Wanderers in the second round.
Wicklow’s firsts face a massive game on Sunday in the second round of the Provincial Towns Cup when they travel to Maynooth to take on North Kildare.
The Kildare side were impressive in their defeat of Dundalk in the first round two weeks ago.
Wicklow will need to be at their very best to come away with the win.
The club are calling for as many supporters as possible to make the handy trip to Maynooth and to get behind this team. Kick off is at 3pm on Sunday.
Stephen Swan, Jason Byrne, Seamus O’Brien, Ronan Monahan, Niall Higgins, Andrew Doyle , Jonathan Hopkins, Lorcan Smullen, Sean Duffy, Darren Byrne, Shane Byrne Russell Andrew, Ross O’Toole, Alex Porter, Tim Spencer, Alan Byrne, Dave Quinn, David Parada, Ivan Cortes, Sean Duffy, Neil Kearney IT was left to St. Gerard’s to advance Co. Wicklow’s reputation in Leinster Schools rugby as they were the only one of four sides to enjoy success this weekend.
A handsome 23-5 success over St. Fintan’s saw the Bray side advance to the quarter-finals of the Senior Cup.
There is no chance of them meeting local rivals Pres Bray though.
The Putland Road-based school locked horns with heavyweights Newbridge College and endured an afternoon to forget as the rampant Kildare side ran out 36-0 winners.
Also in the senior ranks, Coláiste Bhríde tangled with Gorey Community Schol in the McMullen Cup semi-final on Wednesday last.
The Carnew school left everything on the field but came up short. Trailing 5-0 at the break, Bhride would be breached further in the second period and eventu- ally succumbed to a 17-0 defeat.
Casting an eye over the junior section, Scoil Chonglais flew the flag with pride against St. Wesley College on Tuesday last.
The Baltinglass looked to be down and out as they trailed 14-0 but they battled back to 14-10. Try as they might, they could not bridge the four-point cap and thus, it was Wesley who advanced to the first round of the JCT.
The stars of this week though are undoubtedly St. Gerard’s. Jack Conan’s former school were shellshocked when they conceded an early try but St. Fintan’s awoke the beast within Gerard’s and they would run in 23 unanswered points to secure a smooth passage to the last eight.
Gerard’s captain Ethan Baxter lead the charge with his side’s opening try which Oliver Haydock converted and number eight Rory Wilson pushed his side into the lead in the 32nd minute as he touched down his side’s second try.
Morgan Freeley added a third try for Gerard’s, with two Haydock penalties completing the scoreline.
St. Gerard’s: M O’Reilly, P. Opperman, O. Haydock, C. Foley, M. Freeley, D. O’Brien, J. O’Caoimh; A. O’Reilly, R. Byrne, D. Carroll, D. Ahern, D. McGovern, C. Byrne, E. Baxter, R. Wilson.
Coláiste Bhríde Carnew: Dylan Sawyer, JJ Kinsella, Kyle Donnelly, Tadgh O’Neill, James Rothwell, Rory Stokes, Jim Sharry, Frank Kavanagh, Cillian Tomkins, Eoin Buckley, Cian Barnes, Lukas McDonagh, Sean Bardon, Gavin Goodwin, Henry Kennedy, Cian Moules, Jacques Rolland, Gavin Murray, Eoin Kavanagh, Fionn Furlong, Josh Jackson.
Pres Bray: David Maloney, Aaron Walsh, Samuel O’Dowd, Michael O’Gara, Josh Pyper, Elliot Ryan, Ben Murphy; Keld Sredojevic, Tom Harbison, Ben Brady, Jack McGrath, Liam Lupton-Smith, Sam Graham, Callum McNulty, Joseph McLaughlin.