Epic battle awaits
Victory over Bective sets up Enniscorthy showdown
BECTIVE WICKLOW 35 39
WICKLOW’S first team continued their fine form this season with an impressive win away to Bective on Saturday afternoon. George Naoupus’ men travelled to storied Donnybrook to take on the Dublin side on the 4G pitch of Energia Park.
Bective lay in fourth place in the league just behind Wicklow in third.
Wicklow had played two physically brutal games away to Ballyclare and home to Gorey in the previous two weeks leading up to this fixture.
It was a battered and injury hit side that took the field.
Bective started brightly and caught Wicklow on the hop with a converted try in the first few minutes to make it 7–0. Both sides exchanged penalties to make it 10–3 after ten minutes. Another penalty each, made it 13–6 to Bective after half an hour in a lively start to the encounter.
After 35 minutes Charlie Butterworth made a brilliant break which was finished off by Luke Gersekowski. Niall Earls added the conversion and the sides were level at 13–13 as half-time approached.
Earls then scored a real cap- tains try on the stroke of half-time to put Wicklow in front. His outstanding touchline conversion made it 13–20 at the interval.
Bective dominated the early exchanges in the second half, running in two tries and adding a penalty to make it 28–20.
Niall Earls tacked on another penalty to make it 28–23. Billy Ngawini made a trademark break which forced the home side to concede another penalty opportunity. The unerring Earls made no mistake and the gap was down to two at 28–26 with 20 minutes remaining.
The turning point of this game came when a slick interchange with Charlie Butterworth released Shane Farrar on a searing break. Luke Gersekowski was in support and broke through to score beneath the posts. He was hit late in the act of scoring. The referee promptly awarded a penalty to Wicklow from the kick off. Niall Earls opted for a shot at goal and slammed over the monster penalty from the half-way line. The ten-point swing was a hammer blow for Bective and Wicklow led by 28–36.
With five minutes left on the clock another huge kick from Earls made it 28-9. Bective were throwing everything they had at Wicklow but Wicklow defended well and frustrated the Dublin side at every turn. With the last play of the game Bective got over for a try to leave the final score after a frenetic encounter at 35–39.
This was a good win by Wicklow who move up to joint second with Gorey on 23 points at the halfway point in the Leinster League. Enniscorthy top the pile on 28 points. The Wexford men have lost only once this season, to Wicklow at Ashtown lane.
Wicklow head to Ross Road to take on the league leaders next Saturday. This has all the makings of another epic encounter between two sides who have produced some fantastic games in recent years.
If a battered Wicklow can eke out a win they will be putting themselves in a position to make a serious challenge for the league title. Lose and it is likely they will only be in the shake up for the minor placings.
Everything is at stake this Saturday and Wicklow are asking their supporters to make a big effort in getting to Ross Road for what should be a wonderful game of rugby between two very good sides.
The Seconds kick off at 1pm with the firsts kicking off at 2.30pm. The club will be open that evening to show the Ireland v USA game. All are welcome.