The game kicked off with the visitors playing into the clubhouse end and it was not long until they settled and moved the ball at every opportunity. The first score arrived on eight minutes as Salmo moved deep into the Gorey 22 and with some slick handling they crossed in the corner. Gorey responded almost immediately and some good phases saw Fergal Bolger cross for a try for Stephen Duke to convert. A Salmo penalty on the 22nd minute saw the visitors restore their lead. But fortune favours the brave and with Salmo moving the ball wide an alert Andrew Walshe intercepted to run from deep inside his own 22 to score a fortuitous try to take the score to 14 - 8 which was how the half ended.

The second half saw Gorey start the brighter and on the sixth minute they were duly rewarded for some hard work when Stephen Horan crossed the line to extend Gorey's lead. Stephen Duke tapped over the conversion for a 21 - 8 lead. If Gorey thought the game was over De La Salle had other ideas and forced Gorey deep into their own half and, in the next 20 minutes, managed to score two unanswered tries to retake the lead. A further penalty saw Gorey needing a try to win, the opportunities were there, but Gorey just could not breakdown a resolute defence.

Gorey will look back on this game and wonder how they let such a lead slip. Collectively the team had played excellent but at this level some poor decisions at crucial stages were to prove costly. Captain JP Redmond, Stephen Gardiner and Willie Earle were the pick of the forwards with Stephen Duke, Stephen Horan and Eoin Walshe the pick of the backs. Next up for Gorey is an away trip to Monkstown next saturday.

D.Bellanova B.O'Connor J. Mulligan A.Copeland S. Gardiner E.Horan F. Bolger P. Redmond S.Horan S.Duke J.Condren
E.Walsh A. Holland A.Walsh G.Bater W. Earle H. Woods D.Gregan A. O'Brien S. O Leary