Arklow clear away cobwebs
Win after Christmas break
ARKLOW RFC NORTH MEATH 27 10
ARKLOW’S season part two started with this home game.
The rustiness of players was obvious after the Christmas break. Arklow were quick out of the blocks but were not consistent enough and within five minutes of the start North Meath had gently worked their way into the Arklow 22 and after pressing the line finally crossed in the corner. No conversion so the visitors were five nil up.
From midway through the first half Arklow got a foothold in the game and by playing rugby in the right areas. Arklow quickly scored a good try by Ben Diaper and conversion was added, Arklow 7, North Meath 5 points.
Arklow continued with applying heavy pressure on the North’s try line, forcing another try by Ben Kavanagh without conversion plus an additional penalty, so coming to the end of the first half Arklow were ahead 15-5.
Arklow took too long to get into gear in the second period and again had to defend for the opening 15 minutes of part two.
The latter half of the second half was when Arklow came to the fore, winning good ball and positioning themselves in the North’s red zone.
Again it was Meath that scored a try but Arklow turned on the skill and perseverance showed their opponents no respect by running in two more tries, one by Tommy New after a great solo break and finally a great finish by Shane Nalty of good passing and support play by the Arklow team.
The match deteriorated with a flurry of yellow cards and many penalties for both sides. Arklow saw this game out patiently, happy with a bonus point win that keeps them on point/difference only at the top of this league.
When Arklow were on form the whole team show great skill and commitment for periods but again weren’t consistent through out the eighty minutes.
Arklow played well but there were too many lapses in concentration and easing off when in good scoring positions.
In next week’s game away to New Ross, Arklow cannot afford to ease the pressure from beginning to end. Arklow cannot stop or ease up as Ross are on the heels of Arklow in what hopefully will be a promotion pointer. This performance will not be enough to win in Ross, Arklow must commit for the full eighty minutes.
There are only a few games to left for this league and nothing separates the top four teams. No easy matches either home or away.
Arklow showed patches of good form against North Meath. They must now their heads down and into the wind for these last few games.
CO. CARLOW ARKLOW 17 26
ARKLOW travelled to Carlow on Saturday last intending on consolidating their position at the top of the Division 1A Leinster League.
With recent wins over Gorey and Kilkenny, the Arklow boys were also chasing their third straight win in a row.
The game kicked off in terrible weather conditions with driving rain and a gale force wind in the face of the visitors.
The Carlow boys, using the wind from the start, put Arklow under pressure very early and before Arklow had got going they found themselves a try down within three minutes of the start, Carlow 5, Arklow 0.
They continued with this momentum but Arklow hardened to the task and stood solid against continued Carlow pressure.
Slowly but steadily Arklow made solid progress out of their own half and reversed the pressure game back onto Carlow. In particular, the Arklow pack worked relentlessly on sealing the ball with Daire Furlong and Eoin Byrne putting in huge efforts.
With one quarter of the game gone Arklow finally made their move, a quick ball from the base of a ruck by scrum half Padraig Birmingham found its way to centre Dean Kelly, and despite their best efforts Carlow could not stop him touching down to open the Arklow account.
A conversion by out half Conn Kinsella saw the score 5-7 after twenty minutes.
After waiting twenty minutes to open the scoring Arklow responded again just five minutes later, following a knock-on by Carlow the ball was picked from the back of the subsequent scrum by Oran Kelly, the number eight carried from ten metres out to touch down in the corner for Arklow’s second try of the day. The score now reading 5-12.
With half-time in sight but no rest from the awful conditions Carlow mounted an attack. Using their big prop forwards in a back line move, Arklow struggled to contain the physicality that beared down on them. So it was with just ten seconds left in the first half Carlow also scored their second try of the day to leave the score 10-12.
As if conjured up by the locals the wind completely died as the referee sounded the whistle for the start of the second half.
Carlow buoyed by their try just before half time seemed to gain confidence and settled into the steady pattern of play.
Arklow were now on the back foot and hard tackling from Harry Stevens and Zander Davis pushed back the attack, however with ten minutes gone the Arklow defence was breached and Carlow scored a try in the corner to leave the score 15-12.
In now typical Arklow style, the fightback was about to begin.
With steady composure the Arklow forwards gained yard after slow yard, Josh Tunney combined well with Luke Doyle to see Arklow just five metres out from the try line.
Arklow now sensed a score on the cards and quick recycling from Chris O’Brien found second row player Ross Burke, with three Carlow players hanging from him he drove over the line to score and got Arklow back in the game, another conversion from Kinsella saw the score now tilt back to Arklow at 17-19.
Confidence again growing from Arklow, saw great passing and ball carrying from the likes of Jamie Tobin and Roan Frehill.
One sensed there was only going to be one winner from here. So it was with just five minutes left loose head prop Billy Molloy sealed the game after a lovely passage of play from Aaron Fitzaptrick and namesake Will Molloy. The try was converted once more by Kinsella and that was to be how the match ended 17-26.
Arklow travel to Longford this weekend intending on taking one step closer to a coveted Leinster title. Well done!!
Photos: Jessica Marsh