Leaders score five tries

ENNISCORTHY SCORED five tries on their way to a convincing Leinster League Division 1A victory in Donnybrook on Saturday.

This win puts them 15 points ahead of their nearest rivals with only three games remaining.

The Enniscorthy pack, fielding without a recognised lock, laid the foundation for this success. Apart from some line-out mis-throws, the pack dominated the Dublin outfit for most of the game.

The Wexford men were eager from the start. Out-half Ivan Poole’s neat kick into the corner had Bective in all sorts of trouble.

From the resultant scrum they pressed and flanker Luke Cummins barged over from a few metres to put them ahead after only four minutes.

Shortly after, centre Killian Lett made great ground down the same side.

When left wing David O’Dwyer got the ball, he burst past a number of tackles to score in the same corner, so Enniscorthy were 10-0 ahead after only seven minutes.

For most of the half they continued to press but Bective’s defence held the line. With about five minutes remaining they scored the try of the match.

From a line-out, Poole’s skipped pass found centre Daniel Pim and his inside pass sent right wing Ivan Jacob through the gap to touch down under the posts.

With Poole’s conversion, this left the visitors 17 points ahead at half-time.

After the interval Bective got their hand on the ball more but kicked too much.

This played into the hands of Enniscorthy’s back three, in particular full-back Richard Dunne who had a fine game.

Midway through the half Enniscorthy began to press, searching for a fourth and bonus point try.

They went through a number of phases close to the line. They stayed patient and eventually replacement scrum-half Billy Wickham ran in from five metres to score which Poole converted.

With five minutes remaining, Richard Dunne made another break down the left and found centre Daniel Pim who ran in for the fifth try. Poole converted from wide out.

It was fitting that Pim got their last score as he had an excellent game throughout. The last play of the game resulted in a fine try from Bective under the posts.

Top four: Enniscorthy, 48 points; Gorey, 33 points; Wicklow, 33 points; Kilkenny, 26 points.

Next week is a welcome break for the squad before their All-Ireland final clash with Ashbourne in Edenderry on Saturday, January 26.

Enniscorthy: Angelo Todisco, David Murphy, Paddy Waters, Nick Doyle, Tom Ryan (capt.), Luke Cummins, Brian Bolger, Timmy Morrissey, Arthur Dunne, Ivan Poole, David O’Dwyer, Killian Lett, Daniel Pim, Ivan Jacob, Richard Dunne. Subs. - Billy Wickham for A. Dunne (50), Hugh O’Neill for O’Dwyer (65), James Doyle for Todisco (65), Jim White for Morrissey (65), Conal Kavanagh for Murphy (75).