Arklow power to win in Athy
Great result away from home
ATHY RFC ARKLOW RFC 15 26
ARKLOW bounced back from last weekend’s Leinster League Division 2B defeat to Edenderry with this very impressive victory over Athy away last weekend.
This game was a replica of last week, as both Athy and Edenderry play similar rugby. It was a very windy day, and that required good well aimed kicks to get into good field position.
Arklow out-half Micheal O Scannail rose to the occasion very well with some great kicks to bring his team into the right areas.
The visitors started exactly as they did last week sweeping moves across the pitch just around the Athy 22.
Again, Arklow were scrummaging really well and looking to stretch the opposition backs and create a try.
Arklow were awarded a penalty and decided to kick for the Athy five-meter line and from the ensuing maul the Arklow pack as a body drove over the Athy try line for a well deserved try finished off by Richard Murphy. The conversion was missed. Arklow 5, Athy 0.
From the kick off Arklow worked their way again into Athy 22 and were seeking, attacking and stretching the Athy line again.
The visitors won a scrum on the Athy five-meter line and with a good solid scrum sent the home side back over their line at the posts. The conversion was good. Arklow now ahead by 12-0.
Athy started to realize they had a match on their hands and attacked and make Arklow work and were rewarded by a try in the corner. The conversion was not easy and was missed.
This game was not now quite so one-sided. Immediately some good work by Arklow backline brought play into the Athy red zone. From a line out the ball was knocked was passed along Athy’s backline but a knock on by the home side was picked up in the middle of the pitch and the Arklow center off loaded the ball to Micheal O Scannail who scored a good try under the posts and then converted the score. Now, Arklow led by 19-5.
Athy continued to pressure Arklow. This game then turned around and Athy came more and more into the game but Arklow kept the line clear and defended very well.
Arklow were unlucky to concede a kickable penalty in front of their post which was easy to convert. Half-time arrived with Arklow leading by 19-8.
The second half was a different ball game with Arklow playing into a strong wind so long kicks were just not possible. The visitors did a lot of good defending all across the pitch but Athy were camped in the Arklow 22.
Attack after attack was stopped by good tackling by all the Arklow team. There was to be no repeat of last week’s game.
The visitors tackled furiously and always managed to prevent many attacks by the home side. Eventually the pressure by Athy had to pay and a good try was scored by their backs under the Arklow posts and the conversion was added.
The tension in this game was starting to build with the scores now Athy 15, Arklow 19, with ten minutes left to play.
Arklow then had their finest five minutes of this game. A good kick ahead by the Micheal O Scannail and a good chase by Arklow backs forced Athy into touch at their own five-meter line. Arklow had the put in to the line and won the line out.
Then the Arklow pack mauled and rucked their way towards the posts. Arklow then won a five-meter scrum on the Athy line and again pushed them across their own line almost under the crossbar.
The conversion was complete bringing the final score to Arklow 26, Athy15.
A four-try bonus point win from a very difficult away game.
This was fitting reward for the efforts of this good Arklow side that didn’t wilt under extreme pressure at times.
This game could have gone either way but Arklow fought well and deserved to shade it.
This was a measurable increase in performance levels by Arklow and should give the team the confidence to be ambitious.
Three matches remain in this league: Portarlington, (H) on January 27; Midland Warriors (A) on February 17; Balbriggan (H) on March 3.
Also, next Sunday Arklow play Midland Warriors at home in the first round of the Provincial Towns Cup.
Arklow RFC: 1. Ben Byrne Diaper, 2. Cathal Louth (C), 3. Anthony O’Donnell, 4. Colly Doyle,
5. Joe Bulmer, 6. John Furlong, 7. Tom Scarff, 8. Richard Murphy,
9. James Stenning, 10. Micheal O Scannail, 11. Shane McAllister,
12. Joni Butterworth, 13. Paddy Ryan, 14. Tommy New, 15. Shane Nalty. Replacements: 16. Eoin O Scannail, 17. John Louth, 18. Jack Joyce, 19. Dave Mulroney,
20. Paddy Phelan.
WICKLOW RFC GARDA RFC 38 0
WICKLOW’S Senior women returned to Leinster League fare after enjoying the Christmas break to took on familiar rivals Garda in Ashtown lane on Sunday looking to extend their unbeaten League campaign.
These two teams have been close rivals over the years both gaining promotion together two years ago to Division 2 and there has rarely been more than a score between them.
Wicklow won the toss and elected to play into the strong wind in the first half. Despite having much of the possession for the first ten minutes the Wicklow girls failed to make it out of their own half this a testament to the Garda defence as well as the weather conditions.
However after some strong play by the forwards and nice hands by the backs they scored in the corner to take the lead.
The second try and a super try it was, came just after the kick off when strong driving by the tight forwards brought them into the opposition half.
From there strong running and nice offloading by the back row led to a second try. Wicklow were now in the ascendency. They secured the bonus point by half time in a very strong first half performance to go in leading 24-0.
The Garda girls showed great resilience in the 2nd half and despite facing a strong breeze they battled hard and only conceded a further 14 points to leave the final score at 38-0.
The Wicklow girls will be slightly disappointed with the second half performance given the quality of the first half, but this victory leaves them eight points clear at the top of the table with only three games remaining. Up next for the Wicklow girls is a tough away game where first place play third in Balbriggan.