Tough opening league encounter for Arklow
ARKLOW TULLOW 20 55
ARKLOW’S under-14s welcomed Tullow to The Oval for the first game of the Leinster League on Saturday, with three previous encounters last season Arklow knew they were in for a tough battle.
Arklow started well from the kick off and with a scrum on Tullow’s 22-metre line Arklow were awarded a penalty for offside, quick thinking from Ernest Kackis took a quick tap and passed it to Gordon Prestage who sprinted around the Tullow defence and scored in the corner.
Tullow responded well and started to release their big ball carrier’s at the Arklow defence who struggled to deal with the Tullow onslaught, and Tullow got their reward with a try to level the score.
Tullow started to dominate the first half with some fine rucking and powerful back play scoring three tries in quick succession.
Arklow battled hard and tried to adjust to the pace of the game, but Tullow managed to run in another two tries before half time.
Arklow started the second half much brighter and were now starting to repel the Tullow attack with some fine tackling from the forwards, Jake Molloy and Ernest kackis leading the way putting pressure on Tullow’s attack with Neal Hanna and Josh Robinson putting in big tackles off the rucks.
Arklow started to grow into the game and with some fine ruck play the backs released Gordon Prestage who broke the Tullow defence on the half way line to race under the posts to score his second try.
Tullow came back on the attack again, but great work from Josh Robinson to steal the ball anda clearance kick from Conor Healy resulted in Ernest Kackis chase and pressure to turn over the ball.
This turned defense into attack with a quick pass to Gordon Prestage who outpaced the Tullow defence again to run in under the posts for his third try.
Tullow were in no mood to let Arklow mount a comeback and with a combination of some fine rucking, great back play and clever kicking resulted in another two tries.
Arklow had the final say again with some fine rucking Gordon Prestage released Stuart Bollard Troy to race down the wing and under the posts for the final try of the game.
Score: Tullow 55, Arklow 20.
Conor Healy, Stuart Bollard Troy, Gordon Prestage, Finn Scott, Harry Hadden, Neal Hanna, Ernest Kaukis, Archie Hadden, Charlie Graham, Jack Breen, Ethan Doyle, Jake Molloy, Tom Byrne, Charlie O’Connor, Mark Confront, Oisin Fortune, Eoin Scanlon, Sean Carey, Micky Kinsella, Josh Robinson, Ben Clancy.