Three is the magic number
WICKLOW 29 PORT DARA 7
THE Wicklow under-18s completed the treble of trophies for the Ashtown Lane club by beating Port Dara in a very tough contest under the lights in freezing conditions in Donnybrook last weekend.
The Wicklow girls found themselves in the main event fixture of the evening as the anticipation was building all day. With the under-14s and under-16s managing to win their respective finals, it was all resting on the older girls to secure the treble.
The Wicklow under-18s came out of the blocks bursting with energy as they were firmly on the front foot. For the first quarter of the game the Wicklow girls managed to box Port Dara within their own twenty-two as a score looked imminent with fullback Naoise O’Reilly looking very dangerous with ball in hand.
Credit to the Kildare girls, their defensive effort was very impressive as they kept their opponents away from the try-line with hard tackles being made and some good steals at the breakdown.
Although the deadlock was final broken as O’Reilly got the opening try of the contest. Port Dara didn’t let their heads drop however as they worked their way up the pitch to get a try of their own, getting their conversation. It was 7-5 and it was clear this was going to be a nail-biting encounter.
With half-time on the horizon and Wicklow trailing by two points, they were trying their best to get another score on the board. Captain Nicola Schmidt was making her fair share of carries throughout the game, along with second rows Ciara Brennan and Ellen Griffin who put in a solid shift all day.
The Wicklow girls managed to regain the lead at the cusp of half-time scoring a well-worked try. It was 12-7.
With the game on a knife edge, the second half was set to be an entertaining spectacle.
Centre Vicky Kinlan was the shining line for the Wicklow girls as she was making breaks and tackles all over the park.
Beth Roberts was pulling the strings from out-half as well as Wicklow’s quaility began to show.
Wicklow earned a penalty straight in front of the posts, Roberts slotted the ball between the uprights making it a two score game.
Wicklow had the upper hand in the scrum all day, they had a very well-working maul also with front rowers Molly Flood and Laura Newsome putting in impressive performances.
The third try was a testament to the hard work done by the pack as prop Flood was the try-soccer on her birthday. It was 22-7.
With the game coming to a close, the girls really turned on the style as O’Reilly made a blistering break through defence before Vicky Kinlan finished the move off, storming through and scoring under the posts after a powerful run of her own.
Kinlan’s try was a fitting end in what was a brilliant game of rugby played by both teams.
It was an historic day for Wicklow Rugby Club, winning three separate girls Leinster finals at three different age grades.
There is no doubt the future is bright for Women’s rugby in Wicklow as they’ll be hoping AIL status looms in the future.
These young girls will only add to the talent the senior side already has in years to come.
WICKLOW: Naoise O’Reilly, Faye O’Neill, Vicky Kinlan, Jenifer Madden, Emma Curran, Beth Roberts, Evie Humby, Molly Flood, Gabrielle Kennedy, Laura Newsome, Ciara Brennan, Ellen Griffin, Nicola Schmidt ©, Toni Quinn, Leah Murphy. Subs: Rachel Ellen Foster, Sarah Carroll, Siobhan Gorman, Rhona Lennox, Holly McSorley, Aoife Dunne, Laura Hope Madden, Eva Phelan.