Longford await Wicklow after Gorey conquest
WICKLOW RFC GOREY RFC 35 14
WICKLOW had a well-deserved victory in the first round of the Leinster Under-18 Cup last Saturday when they overcame local rivals Gorey in Ashtown Lane.
Having beaten North Kildare in the Preliminary round three weeks ago, the Wicklow lads were determined to keep the Cup run going with a strong performance against a very good Gorey side.
The Wicklow RFC side started well and were rewarded for their strong performance with two good tries in the first 25 minutes taking them into a 14–0 lead, which they maintained to half time. The two tries were scored by Brian Shortt and Sam Por- ter, both converted by Paddy McKenzie.
The only negative for Wicklow was that they lost their strong running centre, Adan Cullen, to a bad should injury just before the break.
In the second half, Wicklow continued their good play and soon stretched the lead to 21–0, when Harry Noonan drove over the line for Wicklow’s third try of the game, which again was converted by McKenzie.
After that try Gorey came back into the game and scored a try of their own to bring the score back to 21–7.
Gorey were now starting to get more and more of the ball, so Wicklow had to up their game to ensure that they didn’t allow them get back into the game.
With 15 minutes to go, Wick- low won a line out in Gorey’s 22 and set up a maul, that resulted in Mark Nicholson driving over the line for Wicklow’s forth try of the day.
Paddy McKenzie converted to take the score to 28–7. In fairness to Gorey, they weren’t prepared to lie down and they were soon rewarded with their second try of the day when Aidan Wafer touched down under the posts.
This try was converted to take the score to 28–14 in Wicklow’s favour.
Any thoughts of a Gorey comeback was put to bed when Wicklow’s strong running No 8, Luke Thompson scored a really good try to take the game out of Gorey’s reach.
McKenzie maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot, converting the try to take the final score to 35–14 in favour of Wicklow.
Wicklow will now travel to Longford for the next round of the Cup in three week’s time.
Next weekend, the under-18s continue the Leinster League Premier campaign with a home fixture against Enniscorthy on Sunday afternoon.
Victory in this game will cement a top two place in the league and therefore a home tie in the semi-final stages of the competition.
Wicklow U18 Squad: 15. Cormac Murray, 14. Malachy Stone,
13. Adam Cullen, 12. Cian Reynolds, 11. Jack Farmer, 10. Paddy McKenzie, 9. Scott Burleigh, 8. Luke Thompson, 7 Jack Gibney,
6. Dylan Byrne, 5. Sam Porter, 4. Brian Short, 3. Harry Noonan, 2. Mark Nicholson (Capt.), 1. Cian O’Sullivan. Replacements: 16. Conor Vize, 17. Matthew McGettigan, 18. Fionan Teevan, 19. Rossa Marron, 20. Cormac Fenton, 21. Sam Hodgkinson, 22 Ben Griffen