Home not so sweet as Boyne go down
Boyne Gorey 18 34
THE Shamrock Lodge crowd got full value for money on Saturday as they witnessed eight tries in this exciting Leinster League clash, but Boyne had nothing to celebrate come the final whistle as poor tackling cost them dear.
Gorey came to Drogheda on Saturday last to open their campaign, having not played the previous week due to a bereavement, while the home side were in confident mood after comprehensively beating Monkstown away on the opening day.
Boyne managed to score three top-class tries on the day but, unfortunately, inadequacies in other aspects of their play - particularly tackling - saw the visitors register five tries which also gave them a bonus point.
This was a game which produced plenty of excitement and had thrills and spills which contributed to the intensity of the encounter. However, at times it was difficult to fathom the decisions of the referee who had numerous consultations with both captains during the game.
Whilst there could be no doubting his decisions to issue three yellow cards, two to Boyne and one to Gorey, his officiating at ruck, maul and offside left players and spectators frustrated at times.
Within four minutes Gorey had got their first points on the board when Boyne were penalised for obstruction off the ball from a kick ahead.
Following the drop out, Boyne had a series of good moves off an excellent scrum when they went down the right with a series of transfers, only to be denied by a foot in touch.
A Gorey penalty resulted from the lineout and they cleared their lines, finding a good touch just inside the opposition half. However, Boyne pressure saw a turnover from a knock on which resulted in a break deep into the Gorey half.
From a lineout Gorey were penalised and Karl Keogh kicked the penalty to bring the scores level after 20 minutes.
From the drop out Gorey failed to gain the 10 metres and Boyne had the scrum on the half-way line. From the set piece the ball was moved wide by out half Tom Francis, with full back Eoghan Duffy joining the line, but his run ended with a tackle and a penalty for failing to release.
On 22 minutes another good Boyne scrum saw scrum half Alex Cox break to his left to feed out half Francis who made ground beyond half-way. With bodies outside he decided to try and kick ahead, but it was blocked down by Gorey second row Daragh O’Leary who gathered and sprinted away, leading to Gorey’s first try. The simple conversion made it 10-3 after 24 minutes.
What followed was a period of frenetic play which had both sides running the ball at every opportunity, before Gorey were penalised for offside and Keogh landed the penalty.
Boyne’s defence was severely stretched coming up to half-time and their cover was badly exposed when centre Brian Howell was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock on in attempting to break up a Gorey attack.
Shortly afterwards Boyne were reduced to 13 players when Cox was binned following an altercation with a Gorey player who was also yellow-carded.
Boyne’s defence continued to be strenuously tested, and following a series of drives by the Gorey forwards their out half kicked wide for his winger to follow up and touch down for a try. They converted this score to take the half-time score to 17-6.
The second half opened with Gorey inflicting further pain on Boyne when they scored another try within two minutes. This was their best of the game, with some sublime offloading by their forwards to release their backs who finished off the move. They failed to convert but now had a commanding-looking advantage of 16 points.
However, Boyne refused to capitulate and from the drop out they went on the offensive, taking play deep into their opponents’ half. Once again the inconsistency of the official was puzzling as second row Richard Shuttleworth was blatantly taken out by a high tackle, but no action was taken against the offender other than the penalty.
Nevertheless, Boyne won good ball from the resultant lineout and moved the ball wide for full back Duffy to touch down and Keogh kicked the conversion to put Boyne back in contention at 22-13.
Boyne were now enjoying their best spell of the game and from the Gorey drop out they managed to retain possession. The forwards had a series of drives, bringing play deep into their opponents’ territory, before moving the ball left with a series of transfers which saw industrious back row Rory Hennessy pop up on the outside to score in the corner.
Keogh failed with the difficult conversion, but there was now only four points separating the sides with more than 20 minutes remaining.
All Boyne’s hard work counted for nothing, however, when they failed to contain a break by the Gorey second row who drove deep into the Boyne half. He was supported by his pack and the move went all the way to the Boyne line for an unconverted try.
In fairness, Boyne fought valiantly for the remaining 15 minutes to try and get a bonus point, but Gorey held their advantage with excellent kicks into the Boyne 22’ which meant the home side had to start their attacks from deep each time.
They had some chances to reduce the arrears and with one of these elected to kick for the posts for a bonus point. Francis took over kicking duties from Keogh, who had been replaced, but was off target with his attempt.
Then, with virtually the last play of the game, Gorey finished off the scoring when they broke through for another try under the posts.
Boyne make the long trip to the South East this coming when they attempt to pile more misery on Enniscorthy who surprisingly lost their opening two fixtures. Kick-off is at 3pm.
BOYNE: Eoghan Duffy; Richard Keane, Adam Brodigan, Brian Howell, Kevin McCleery; Tom Francis, Alex Caviezel Cox; Pat Shuttleworth, George Cooney, Jerry Onianwa; Richard Shuttleworth, Declan Moore; Ciaran Smith, Rory Hennessy, Karl Keogh. Replacements: Padraic Mongey, Keith Keogh, Kevin Prendergast, Wilson Twentyman, Joe Sweeney.
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