Wicklow’s brave effort falls short
at Ashtown Lane 3 12
inroads into Bective territory. On the stroke of half-time a powerful Wicklow scrum dismantled the Bective eight and a well deserved penalty was awarded. Niall Earls made no mistake and Wicklow went in at half-time trailing 3-7.
The second half opened in a similar vein. Wicklow attacked with everything they had but a strong Bective defence held them at bay. Wicklow’s set piece was much improved and the hard work over recent weeks was beginning to pay dividends.
When the home side did get into a scoring position they were too often undone by s simple knock or forced pass. In some ways it was a case of trying too hard.
A breakaway Bective try was finished off well and the score was 3-12 with time beginning to run out.
To Wicklow’s credit they gave it everything but couldn’t breakdown a miserly Bective defence. Eventually the final whistle went and Bective had won.
Wicklow produced a much-improved performance full off real endeavour but a strong Bective side did enough to take all the points.
There were eye-catching displays from young Sam Porter and
Jack McGrath in the second row.
Mathematically Wicklow can stay up but must win the last three league games and hope results go their way.
Next Saturday they travel to second from bottom Seapoint.
A win here would hopefully ignite a positive end to the season and set them up for a run in the Provincial Towns Cup. Kick-off is at 1 p.m. for the seconds and 2:30 p.m. for the firsts.
The lads could do with all the support they can get.
David Nicholson, Jack McKenna, Neil Dickenson, Sam Porter, Jack McGrath, Liam Gaffney, Michael Doyle, George Naoupu, Michael Doyle, Dennis Higgins, Niall Earls, Alistair Hill, Alex Porter, Ben Porter, Billy Ngawini, Stephen Duffy, Mark Higgins, John Jenkinson, Conor Vize, Eddie Downes, Mark Cullen.
WICKLOW: Division 1A
Ashbourne Suttonians Bective Rangers Dundalk Gorey Kilkenny Seapoint Wicklow
P 11 11 12 11 11 12 11 11
W 10 7 6 6 5 5 4 2
D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
L 1 4 6 5 6 7 7 9
F A Pts 281 141 45 263 238 35 259 185 34 189 235 27 203 196 26 229 280 25 200 224 22 148 273 10
WICKLOW RFC senior women were away in Park Avenue to take on league leaders Railway Union in Sunday’s Leinster League top of the table clash where first played second.
After the biblical downpour of the previous day the pitch was fairly cut up and sticky, but the conditions were dry with a slight breeze and the rugby served up was top notch.
Wicklow in the first half were playing with a light breeze and down a slight slope. The visitors were certainly the quicker to start and after a succession of penalties on the Railway Union line and dominating processions and territory for the first fifteen minutes elected to take the three points on offer.
Out-half Sarah Gleeson knocked over the kick from in front of the posts to give Wicklow a 3-0 lead and to show something for all their early pressure.
Railway Union struck back immediately and one or two missed tackles and some soft penalties gave them territory. Once they were in the Wicklow 22 they were very efficient and clinical and soon crashed over to take the lead 5-3.
Wicklow came back at them, playing some a great mix of strong forward drives mixed with slick hands from backs. Their scrum was extremely dominant and consistently drove the Railway Union pack off their own ball.
It was however off one of these scrums, while down to 14 with their hooker having received a yellow card, that Wicklow were to score. Scrum-half Megan Parkinson linked nicely with out-half Sarah Gleeson to touch down for an unconverted try to make it 5-8 to Wicklow at half-time.
The Wicklow women started strongly again in the second half and after some big carries from Eimear Douglas and Amy O’Neill and a break from Gleeson