Arklow ready for big test Wicklow under-15s topple Tullamore
THIS Sunday, February 10, at 3pm, Arklow Rugby Club reaffirms its love affair with the Provincial Towns Cup in The Oval.
The County Wicklow side are set to take on a relative unknown quantity in the Tullamore J1 team.
The Offaly side will no doubt be a well drilled team with many of the side featuring prominently on the club’s Senior panel.
Combine this with the passion and pride that comes from a traditional Town’s Cup match and you will get a mouth watering encounter that sure to set the pulses racing.
Arklow Rugby Club have performed well in the league and cup this season and have proven themselves to be a very useful outfit.
Under the guidance of coach Joe Bulmers, a two times Towns Cup winner with Enniscorthy, they find themselves very much in contention for a play-off place in the league despite erratic form in the early part of the season.
Experience in the Town’s Cup certainly won’t be an issue with both Bulmers and previous winners with Arklow, Richard ‘Nitzy’ Murphy, Shane Nalty, plus Towns Cup winning captain for Arklow Anthony O’Donnell taking to the pitch on Sunday.
Arklow Rugby Club have a proud tradition in this famous competition.
The club have reached the final in 1968 and 1974 losing out narrowly to Navan and Skerries respectively.
Then in 1985, led by captain Mick ‘Dicer’ Hickey, the club managed to get the monkey off its back, repeating the achievement under O’Donnell 2004.
The club now wants to use the match on Sunday afternoon to celebrate their success, and raise a glass to winners that are now sadly no longer with us, in the famous competition and are inviting former members involved in these successes to attend a drinks reception at 1pm ahead of the big kick off at 3pm.
Anyone looking to attend should text 087 8519849 for more details. Photo: Yvette O Beirne
WICKLOW RFC TULLAMORE RFC 43 25
WICKLOW RFC’S under-15s hosted Tullamore at Ashtown Lane on Saturday last in the Leinster League Premier Division Phase 2.
The home side needed a win from this clash with Tullamore to keep them second in the league behind Naas.
In perfect conditions, Tullamore kicked off and got straight down to business, putting Wicklow under pressure. Both teams tried hard to find an opening but cancelled each other out in the early play. Wicklow gave away a soft penalty in front of the posts and Tullamore didn’t hesitate in taking the three points on offer to open the scoring.
Wicklow seemed a little shell-shocked now and were looking nervous which gave Tullamore confidence and they went after the Wicklow backs.
Tullamore made plenty of space for themselves and it wasn’t long before they would score a well worked try to put them eight ahead.
Wicklow knew they were in a game now and responded with some brilliant rugby and they opened up space to let Scott Fitzpatrick to race through the defence and score an excellent try. Tom Hodgkinson converted.
Both sides now upped the ante and put in some hard work, Wicklow went on the attack, and the forwards carried into contact and edged their way closer and closer to the try line when up popped Sam O’Connor and he drove his way over in the corner to score a hard-earned try.
Wicklow were doing all the running now and Scott Fitzpatrick sprinted down the wing and looked like he would run the length of the pitch but was caught and brought to ground but with Niki Moelders running on his shoulder Scott popped the ball up and nobody was catching Niki and he finished off a brilliant try. Tom Hodgkinson converted and Wicklow went in at half-time leading by 19-8.
The second half was only a minute old when Scott Fitzpatrick danced his way through the Tullamore defence to score his second try of the game which was converted by Hodgkinson again.
Now Wicklow were in control and were playing top class rugby. The home side had a lineout on the 22 and set up a maul which drove at the Tullamore defence. Wicklow then put the ball through the hands and Conor Hunter took off and touched down to score a fantastic team try.
Wicklow were then found guilty of switching off and allowed Tullamore back into the game and they scored two quick tries to bring them back into contention. Wicklow made a couple of changes and pushed their way back into the game and it wasn’t long before Jake Law made a powerful run down the line and score an excellent try which, again, Hodgkinson converted.
Wicklow were caught napping again and allowed Tullamore to sneak another try late on, but the home side made sure they had the last say and after some great phase play they Zach Callery latched onto the ball and put his head down and drove his way over to score a well-deserved try.
The full-time whistle came soon after and Wicklow celebrated a great team win with all 22 lads doing their bit to achieve this win. Full-time score: 43 to 25 in favour of Wicklow.
James Fleming, Liam Nicholson, James O’Donnell, Michael Byrne, Sam O’Connor, Zach Callery, Ivan Mackey, Jake Law, Conor Luddy, Tom Hodgkinson, Thang Tran Quoc, Niki Moelders, Scott Fitzpatrick, Alex Richardson, Conor Hunter, Jordan Twomey, Oisin Clare, Kyle Corrigan, Sean Higgins, Josh Reynolds, Sean O’Meara, Charlie Clarke. Coaches: Mark Kinlan, Graham Burleigh, Markus Moelders.
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