U15s League Race Tight As The Mighty Draw

On Saturday last, 12th January, just before the 11:00am kickoff, the experienced match referee Frank Smith, from Barnhall, Leixlip spoke to both team captains and called for a fair and honest contest. As handshakes were exchanged both Mark Hoare of the Under 15 Gorey RFC team and his counterpart Joey Sheridan of Naas RFC knew there was a lot at stake. Still smarting from a savage thirty three points to nil away defeat to Gorey just before the Christmas break, the men of Forenaughts, Naas were not about to have a repeat performance on home soil.

From the off, both sets of players displayed hard, aggressive rugby. No quarter was given. None asked. Some lip from Gorey saw referee Smith march them back ten. Naas continued to pile on the pressure to the delight of the home crowd who urged their men forward. Desperate defending by Gorey in their in-goal area somehow kept Naas out. Sheer dogged determination and strict discipline by the forward line ensured the ball passed to the Gorey No 10 Cian Hadden who delivered a massive clearance kick to relieve the pressure.

Great running by David Bailey and Daniel Sawyer kept the ball alive and by the time the forwards arrived in support, the wave of advancing Gorey backs led by Oscar Falconer, washed over the Naas defenders. Props Barry Doyle and Jack Cush combined their strength and burst forward only to be met by fanatical tackling from Naas. The full backs exchanged long range shots in an effort to gain some sort of tactical advantage. In this respect Jack Willoughby deserves special mention. He tested the Naas catching and fielding ability, probing for any sign of weakness.

Gorey’s assaults were relentless, skilful but energy sapping affairs and the opposition they met was equally so. Seamus Tomkins, scrum half, delivered accurate timely passes to his back line and gave them plenty of options but couldn’t crack the Naas defence. The battle ebbed and flowed for most of the first half in a similar pattern. Still neither defence budged. A Ciaran Murphy interception halted one Naas assault in its tracks but he was chased down by sharp wingers and he kicked for touch while in full flight. The first half ended scoreless as both squads retired for a well earned break.

The Naas management duo of Shane Rouanne and Paul O’Brien drew on all their rugby experience and tried to devise a way to break the Gorey Maginot Line. A series of well worked passing runs deep in the second half saw Naas powerhouse Sam Jones crash over the line for first blood. The crowd went wild as the players rejoiced. The resulting angle was very tight but the experience of kicker Jack Reilly showed as he curled the ball nicely to slot it between the uprights for a seven point gain. The stalemate was over. Game on.

On the sideline, tactics were discussed but time was running out. Match referee Frank Smith, who played the advantage very well to ensure an exciting game, indicated only ten minutes left on the clock. Cool in a crisis, Gorey coach Brian Willoughby’s plan was delivered to Captain Mark Hoare who carried out his orders. From the bench Ben D’Arcy was on for Michael Wafer, Conor Mangan, impact sub so often before, came on for No. 9 Seamus Tomkins. The ensuing reshuffle with players exchanging position had the desired effect. Gorey advanced on all flanks. The big guns opened up. Encouraged by the dazzling trickery of Reece Hughes and Chris Bolger, Oscar Falconer drove on. Naas seemed temporarily in disarray. Seizing the opportunity from the back of a five meter scrum, Hoare the big No8 charged. Spirited tackling saw him taken down. Gorey were three meters short. Next into the grinder was second row Dale Rothwell who took it over the line but was held up and driven back. From nowhere, muddied and bruised, Conor Mangan stole the ball and launched himself over the line, finding a hole where there wasn’t one and touching down near the posts for five hard earned points. He graciously accepted the deserved accolades of his teammates. Cian Hadden, with fifty one points to his credit this season, added two more despite the pressure of the rushing defenders. Moments later referee Smith blew it up. Both teams finished level. It was a most enthralling game and a draw was a very fair result. Gorey still hold a one point lead in the U15 Division 1 League so far and look forward to travelling to Enniscorthy next Saturday, 19th January.

As always, the squad would like to thank their management and coaching staff of Brian Willoughby, James Tomkins, Colin Hadden, Jim Hoare and especially their sponsors, Stafford’s Bakery of Clonattin, Gorey.

The squad consisted of;

1. Barry Doyle
2. Michael Wafer
3. Jack Cushe
4. David Bailey
5. Dale Rothwell
6. Reece Hughes
7. Chris Bolger
8. Mark Hoare, Capt
9. Seamus Tompkins
10. Cian Hadden (1 Conversion)
11. Daniel Sawyer
12. Oscar Falconer
13. Ciaran Murphy
14. Lucas Stafford
15. Jack Willoughby
Replacements;
Ben D’Arcy for Michael Wafer
Conor Mangan (Try) for Seamus Tomkins
James Hilliard
Cian Fortune
Cathal Byrne
Patrick Sinnott
Luke Willoughby
Will Hurley
Jamie Doyle

Martin Doyle

Gary Walsh