Superb Wicklow through to last four
BALLYCLARE WICKLOW 20 28
WICKLOW First XV travelled to Ballyclare in Co Antrim on Saturday to take on the runaway leaders of the Ulster league, on their home patch, in the quarter final of the All Ireland Junior Cup.
Ballyclare are a strong club, in a rich vein of form. They sit on top of division 1 of the Ulster league and have six bonus points wins from six to date. Wicklow have also been in good form, but having gone down at home to Gorey last weekend would have travelled North as underdogs for this fixture, in many people’s eyes.
Wicklow’s sizeable travelling support were given a very warm welcome at a pre-match reception in the impressive clubhouse before the game. A large crowd turned out to support the home side on the day.
A fired up Ballyclare started the game with real intent. A powerful burst by their centre Willie Stewart sucked in the Wicklow defence, before a searing run by outside centre Joel McBride (son of former Irish International Denis McBride) saw him break through and score beneath the posts. The conversion was added and Wicklow trailed 7-0 after five minutes.
Wicklow began to hold onto the ball, go through the phases and worked their way into the game. A brief period of pressure yielded a penalty kick. Captain Niall Earls, stepped up and knocked it over to make the score 7-3 after fifteen minutes.
Five minutes later, Wicklow forced a good turnover in midfield. A strong run by Luke Gersekowski saw the pacy wing forward link with second row Fergus Ward. Ward passed inside to the onrushing Simon Breen and the powerful winger burst through to score a fine try. The conversion from Earls put Wicklow in front by 7-10 after twenty minutes.
On the thirty-minute mark Wicklow were over again. Some slick interplay by the backs and forwards, before Billy Ngawini threw a skip pass to Simon Breen.
Breen bounced his opposite number and drove over in the corner to score a brilliant try. Not to be outdone, Niall Earls drove over an outstanding touchline conversion to make it 7-17 to Wicklow.
Ballyclare’s Robbie Reid and Niall Earls exchanged penalties just before the break and both teams went in at half time with the score at 10-20 in Wicklow favour.
Early in the second half a scything break by Billy Ngawini forced Ballyclare to concede another penalty. Earls made no mistake and Wicklow extended their lead to 10-23 and were looking confident.
Slowly but surely, Ballyclare clawed themselves back into the game. Ben Porter was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on. Wicklow had to defend their line with ferocity, but the pressure told and soon afterwards Ballyclare were over for a good try from young prop Dean Jones, who drove over just to the left of the posts. Reid’s conversion made it 17-23.
With fifteen minutes left on the clock, a rare moment of indiscipline from Wicklow led to another Reid penalty and the score was 20-23. All the momentum was with the home side. The large crowd roared them on, but Wicklow were in no mood to lose this game.
With the talismanic Niall Earls off the pitch with an injury, Shane Farrar slotted in at out half. A moment of brilliance by Farrar saw Ben Porter in the clear and he scored out wide on the right. The conversion was missed but crucially Wicklow were two scores ahead at 20-28 with time running out.
The Ulstermen fought tooth and nail to get back into things but when a Robbie Reid penalty struck the upright and bounced back into Charlie Butterworth’s grateful arms, you felt it was not going to be their day. Wicklow soaked up the pressure, held onto the ball and wound down the clock. Eventually the final whistle went and Wicklow had won 20-28.
This was an outstanding game of rugby between two Photo: Peter Adams.
very good sides. Both teams gave it everything but it is Wicklow who march on to the semi finals.
This was a superb performance by Wicklow to go away from home and to defeat the best junior side in Ulster on their home patch.
If Niall Earls’ men are going to win this competition, it seems they will have to do it the hard way with another tricky semi-final away to Leinster League leaders Enniscorthy on December 15th.
ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Enniscorthy 23, Dundalk 18, Ross Road; Ballyclare 20, Wicklow 28, the Cloughan; Clonmel 30, CIYMS 18, Ardgaoithe; Waterpark 3, Ashbourne 23, Ballinakill.
Next weekend Wicklow 1sts and 2nds travel to Donnybrook to take on Bective Rangers on the hallowed (4G) turf of Energia Park.
Bective lie in fourth place in the league, one place behind Wicklow and this should be another tight battle. Wicklow will hope a big crowd will make the short trip up the M11 to support the team.
The club will be open on Saturday night for the All Blacks game. All are welcome.
Wicklow: Pablo Castello Vinolo, Jay Byrne, Neil Dickenson, Liam Gaffney, Fergus Ward, Luke Gersekowski, Mark Nicholson, Charlie Butterworth, Mark Higgins, Niall Earls ,Simon Breen, Shane Farrar, Billy Ngawini, Dean Leonard, Ben Porter, Subs Eddie Downes, Seamus O’Brien, Brian Shortt, Denis Higgins, Tom Maguire, Jack McKenna.