U-16s finish strongly to overcome Carlow

at Carlow CO. CARLOW ARKLOW 17 26

of a ruck by scrum half Padraig Birmingham found its way to centre Dean Kelly, and despite their best efforts Carlow could not stop him touching down to open the Arklow account.

A conversion by out half Conn Kinsella saw the score 5-7 after twenty minutes.

After waiting twenty minutes to open the scoring Arklow responded again just five minutes later, following a knock-on by Carlow the ball was picked from the back of the subsequent scrum by Oran Kelly, the number eight carried from ten metres out to touch down in the corner for Arklow’s second try of the day. The score now reading 5-12.

With half-time in sight but no rest from the awful conditions Carlow mounted an attack. Using their big prop forwards in a back line move, Arklow struggled to contain the physicality that beared down on them. So it was with just ten seconds left in the first half Carlow also scored their second try of the day to leave the score 10-12.

As if conjured up by the locals the wind completely died as the referee sounded the whistle for the start of the second half.

Carlow buoyed by their try just before half time seemed to gain confidence and settled into the steady pattern of play.

Arklow were now on the back foot and hard tackling from Harry Stevens and Zander Davis pushed back the attack, however with ten minutes gone the Arklow defence was breached and Carlow scored a try in the corner to leave the score 15-12.

In now typical Arklow style, the fightback was about to begin.

With steady composure the Arklow forwards gained yard after slow yard, Josh Tunney combined well with Luke Doyle to see Arklow just five metres out from the try line.

Arklow now sensed a score on the cards and quick recycling from Chris O’Brien found second row player Ross Burke, with three Carlow players hanging from him he drove over the line to score and got Arklow back in the game, another conversion from Kinsella saw the score now tilt back to Arklow at 17-19.

Confidence again growing from Arklow, saw great passing and ball carrying from the likes of Jamie Tobin and Roan Frehill.

One sensed there was only going to be one winner from here. So it was with just five minutes left loose head prop Billy Molloy sealed the game after a lovely passage of play from Aaron Fitzaptrick and namesake Will Molloy. The try was converted once more by Kinsella and that was to be how the match ended 17-26.

Arklow travel to Longford this weekend intending on taking one step closer to a coveted Leinster title. Well done!!