Edenderry opened the 2nd phase of their league campaign with a hard fought but well deserved victory
With 6 teams involved, playing each other home and away, the importance of home victories is vital, and a lot more will be required to get points on the road. The top 2 teams from this section will get promoted to Leinster League division 2.
On Sunday Edenderry took the points with a much improved performance on their last outing. The pack in particular fronted up and controlled the game for long stretches. With Dave Keenan, Tom Mulligan & Niall Mc Evoy to the fore, the pack was disciplined and more cohesive as a unit than more recent matches. In fact if they had shown more accuracy in taking the opportunities they created, they would have won by more, and possibly denied their visitors a bonus point.
It was Wexford who opened the brighter, and in the first ten minutes looked like they would blow Edenderry away with their brand of attacking rugby. They went ahead with a penalty after 4 minutes and only good defence kept Edenderry from conceding more points. Edenderry then levelled after 12 minutes with their first real pressure on Wexford.
Gaining in confidence Edenderry began to control the match and missed a penalty before taking the lead with a try from Dave Keenan under the posts. This followed good work by the pack and backs combining to spread the Wexford defence. Unfortunately the conversion from under the posts was missed.
Edenderry controlled the game from then on but the kicking of the visitors repeatedly gained them field position and they looked dangerous with ball in hand. The home side were unlucky when the referee blew for a forward pass when Brian O’Carroll put Jack Kilmurray away. It was an unfortunate call. Edenderry remained ahead at the interval 8-3.
Wexford reduced arrears with a long range penalty a few minutes after the resumption to make it 8-6.Despite the home side having the better of things, the visitors were using their ability to get field position to create chances. Their excellent kicker put them ahead 9-8 with a penalty from outside the 10 yard line, and some ill-discipline gave him another opportunity which luckily went wide.
This galvanised the home side and they upped the game from then to the end with some excellent play. Only great defence & a couple of poor decisions prevented them from scoring a try. They were rewarded with a penalty under the posts which Brian O’Carroll converted. 11-9.
With time left on the clock the visitors tried all they could but Edenderry held out comfortably enough to record a deserved victory.
Edenderry now travel for the next 2 weeks to Rathdrum & Railway Union before the Christmas break. They will have to get something from these games to confirm any aspirations they may have in doing well in this competitive league.
Team: Killian Farrell, Liam Holt, Brian O’Carroll, Ethan Cooney, Jack Kilmurray, Shane Kelly, Tom Fawcett, Stephen Potterton (Capt.),Brian Rushe, Derek Kearney, Dave Keenan, Frank Kennedy, Tom Mulligan, John O’Donnell, Niall Mc Evoy
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