J1 team pay price for poor discipline

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A VALIANT Boyne display wasn’t transferred to the scoreboard as their J1 side lost to Arklow 1sts in this Provincial Towns Cup first-round tie at Shamrock Lodge on Sunday.

This was an entertaining game, played in true PTC spirit, and Boyne will probably reflect on events mid-way through the first half when they had two sin-binnings and a sending-off, as being pivotal in the game.

The yellow cards came for a team offence following a warning and a deliberate knock-on when a player went for an intercept, while the red card was for retaliation by a Boyne player and at one stage the home team had only 12 players on the field.

Arklow duly took advantage of the weakened Boyne scrum and were awarded a penalty try which was converted, and they added a penalty to extend their lead to 10-0.

When Boyne were restored to 14 players just before half-time they turned the tables and began to attack the Arklow rearguard with some fine running which caused problems for the visitors.

Good line kicking by scrum half Shane Campbell kept his side going forward and the hard work of forwards Jerry Onianwa, Keith Keogh, Jack Woods and Padraig Mongey kept their side deep in the Arklow half coming up to half-time.

This trend continued after the break, with Boyne taking the game to the opposition at every opportunity with great foraging and gusto to run the ball at every opportunity. The ploy to keep the ball alive was also working well and some excellent off-loading meant that the Arklow forwards were struggling to contain the opposition.

Boyne’s efforts were rewarded with a fine try when a series of transfers ended with Robbie Brodigan going over out wide. Caoilte Hickey converted to give his side a chance of causing an upset, even after Arklow increased their lead with a penalty.

However, despite the best efforts of Boyne, who missed two very kickable penalties, they just couldn’t break down a stubborn and resilient Arklow defence.

Most of the game was played in Arklow territory in the second half, but right at the death they did manage an attack which brought them to within five metres of the Boyne line and they finished their evening’s work with a try from the resultant scrum.