Super team showing seals victory in Navan
NAVAN RFC WICKLOW RFC 7 33
WICKLOW RFC’S under-15 boys made the long journey to Navan on Saturday last. This was their second outing in the Leinster League Premier Division.
With the weather far from perfect for rugby and Wicklow facing a Navan side with a big strong pack, it was going to be a big test.
Under heavy rain the game got under way and both sides got straight down to business, with a lot of handling errors early on both sides seemed to be struggling with the conditions.
With 10 minutes on the clock, Wicklow started to play some great rugby and were rewarded with a try from Scott Fitzpatrick when he skipped through the Navan defence to score. Tom Hodgkinson, who had a great day with the boot, converted Wicklow were up by seven.
Wicklow were ignoring the deteriorating weather and were playing a powerful game which was completely frustrating their opponents.
With the Wicklow pack in full control they opened up the Navan defence and Jake Law made a powerful run down the middle to score Wicklow’s second try of the game. Again, Tom Hodgkinson added the conversion.
Navan responded but found the Wicklow defence in no mood to concede any ground. Wicklow just before half-time took compete control of the game when Sam O’Connor drove through a packed defence to score a well-deserved try which was converted by Tom Hodgkinson. Half-time and Wicklow were looking good for victory leading 21-0.
Wicklow started the second half on the front foot and again piled on the pressure which the Navan defence couldn’t get to grips with.
After some great phases of top-class rugby, Sam O’Connor again produced a strong drive to score his second try of the game. Tom Hodgkinson kicked a great conversion from a difficult angle to add the extra two points from the boot.
Navan then came back into the game with eight minutes to go when they scored a try which they also converted leaving the score 28- 7.
Wicklow responded with some brilliant rugby and pushed a big Navan team back into their 22, quick hands seen the ball played out to Scott Fitzpatrick and he left the Navan defence at a standstill to score a great team try. Tom Hodgkinson stepped up and looked to have converted only for the referee to rule it wide.
The full-time whistle came soon after and Wicklow celebrated a great team performance away from home in very difficult conditions winning 33-7.
Callum Gibney, Alex Richardson, Scott Fitzpatrick, Niki Moelders, Conor Luddy, Tom Hodgkinson, Sean O’Meara, James Fleming, Liam Nicholson, James O’Donnell, Michael Byrne, Sam O’Connor, Jordan Twomey, Ivan Mackey, Jake Law, Zach Callery, Oisin Clare, Kyle Corrigan, Finn Fitzpatrick, Joshua Reynolds, Charlie Clarke, Daragh Cahill. Coaches: Mark Kinlan, Markus Moelders, Graham Burleigh.