Wexford raid The Oval

ARKLOW RFC WEXFORD WANDERERS 14 22

THERE was a great cup game played last Saturday afternoon in Arklow between two southeast sides, Arklow and Wexford Wanderers.

The home side were looking to keep their momentum going after a few very strong performances at home.

Playing with a strong wind in the first half the home side started very strongly getting the first try of the game through centre Dean Kelly Farrell, who managed to break his way through the opposition defence before dotting the ball down under the posts.

Fly half Conn Kinsella cleverly drop kicked the conversion over to give the Arklow side an early seven-point lead.

The game ebbed and flowed for the next 10 minutes with Wexford putting pressure on the Arklow try line. Try as they might Wexford couldn’t get through, with Arklow using the wind every time to clear their lines.

Eventually, Wexford pressure paid off as they got over the try line and slotted the resulting conversion to level the game.

With the game edging towards half-time, the home side piled on the pressure again with foray after foray into the opposition 22.

This intense pressure led to indiscipline from the Wexford defence.

With the final play of the half Arklow won a penalty and after a quick tap the ball landed in the hands of Arkow no. 8 Oran Kelly who burst his way through the Wexford defence for the home side’s second try. Kinsella dropped the conversion over to give them a seven-point lead at the break

The second half was nearly a mirror image of the first, with the team that had the wind gaining the advantage.

Wexford piled on the pressure from the first whistle and after some heroic defending from the home side they managed to cross the white wash for a score. They missed the resulting conversion which kept the home side in the lead.

A couple of phases of play later Wexford managed to break through the cover again to cross the line but again missed the resulting kick.

With the game in its final quarter and still only one score in it Arklow managed to get control of the ball in the Wexford half.

Some more indiscipline got the home side right down into the 22 where they were camped for nearly 10 minutes.

But a mix of great defending and clever fouling Wexford managed to keep the home side at bay. Arklow’s work ethic on the day was noted by all sides and lead by a terrific performance by Billy Molloy who worked tirelessly all match.

With the final play of the game Wexford Wanderers managed to break away and cross the line for one last time, giving the away side an eight-point win in the cup.

The Arklow RFC under-15 boys are at home this Saturday to Tullow with a win ensuring a league play-off position.