Adult Rugby Edenderry traveled to Wexford town this week to take on fellow promotion hopefuls Wexford Wanderers
in the Leinster League and this impressive Derry outfit did very well to take four valuable points to put them 5 points clear at the top of section A. Wexford, who are unbeaten since they played in Edenderry in late November, would have fancied the chance to take on their top of the table rivals on their home turf and Derry who have struggled on long trips in recent seasons must have known they had a challenge on their hands to go there and get a win, especially with a couple of regular starters unavailable on the day.
The home side started well and pressed the Derry line early on, controlling the set piece and running at the Derry back line but the away side were resilient and absorbed the pressure, holding out to keep Wexford from converting the field position to points with some strong tackling and good aggressive play at the break down. Edenderry then made a drive down the pitch of their own and Wexford were forced into an infringement at the break down and from the resulting penalty Brian O'Carroll put the visitors into a 3 - 0 lead. Wexford continued to press as the half wore on, they had the Derry lineout under pressure at times and were solid in the scrum, but the home sides decision to run the ball from deep did not work out as planned as quick thinking Nix McEvoy intercepted a pass ten yards from the opposition line and went on to score a try. O'Carroll added the conversion. Wexford certainly didnt let the heads drop though and they continued to put pressure on both the Edenderry scrum and line out but Derry continued to tackle well and managed to turn over possession at a number to key moments in the loose and held on to go into the break 10 - 0 ahead.
A similar pattern of play continued into the second half, the home side enjoying the lions share of possession and the pressure eventually paid off when their captain who had a fine game at first center scored under the posts after a quick tap penalty caught the Derry defense off guard. Wexford added the simple conversion. Edenderry struck back however with another good kick from O'Carroll to put the score at 13 - 7, leaving the homeside needing a try to take the lead, and when a Wexford player managed to block down a Derry kick in midfield the Wexford captain took the opportunity to kick the ball on down towards the Derry line and scored his second try of the game under the posts. 14 - 13 to Wexford. Derry were not about to give up the ghost however and responded immediately with a drive down the field and again Wexford made an infringement at a ruck to give Edenderry a chance to regain control. O'Carroll stepped up and kicked it sweetly between the posts. Edenderry had the lead with not long left. Wexford had to be commended and really pushed on to try to secure the win and when they were awarded a penalty in the Derry half they took their chance to regain the lead with a well struck penalty. The lead again changing hands and putting the pressure on Edenderry to produce something late in the game. This they did, bullying their way into the Wexford half, and when Derry ran a quick tap penalty they secured a more kickable option further inside the opposition half and again O'Carroll slotted the kick to put Edenderry ahead and that was how it ended.
On the day the under foot conditions probably did not suit the away side but some good tackling and aggression at the break down allowed them enough ball to steal the points. Wexford were very strong at the set play and had Edenderry under pressure for decent spells but perhaps their penalty count and discipline let them down in the end. Edenderrys back 3 of O'Donnell, Kilmurray and Farrell were solid throughout as was Crampton at 8 and O'Carrolls kicking display was impressive and probably won Edenderry the game. Melia who came on at hooker also made an impression and Nix McEvoy was in fine form. Derrys next three games are at home and results there could leave them with a real chance of topping the division.
