Gorey Hold on to Top Place

    Rugby J1'S  Gorey 18  Carlow 6

Gorey welcomed Carlow to Clonattin last Sunday for the Leinster League Division 2A clash. This game had an extra edge to it as Gorey were holding top place in the League and with Carlow in second it was alway going to be nail biter and Gorey had no intention of giving up their position.

The first half was a tough physical encounter with neither defences giving away much ground. In truth, most of the game was played between the two 10 metre lines and no side threatened the try line. It was a forwards battle and this led to penalties for both sides at the break down. Penalty attempts  at the posts were not converted and with the odd back line break, (one of note from Nevil Copeland) the teams battled their way to the halftime break with no score from either side.

After the halftime break the teams returned and the game continued in much the same vain with Gorey's Stephen Dukes converting a penalty and not long after this Carlow produced a drop goal out of attacking play and the sides were level with 3pts each. It was late in the second half that the game livened up. John Condern made a great break and run but was stopped short of the line.  Gorey then applied pressure in Carlow's 22 and when the ball came out the back line Jordan Ahern ran a great line to crash over and score the first try of the game. Stephen Dukes converted to leave it 10pts to 3 in favour of Gorey. Stephen followed this with a penalty awarded for hands in the ruck and Gorey were now taking hold of this game. However it was not long before Carlow were awarded another kickable penalty for an infringement at the breakdown and duly took their chance and now brought the score to 13pts to 6pts and into bonus point territory.

But Gorey were not finished and left the best till last. In the last five minute of the game both sides were testing each other's defences and handling and were sending high ball at the back lines and in one of theses exchanges the ball fell for Jame Nolan and with great pace and turn of speed beat the defenders and tore up the side line to score a magnificent try. This left the final score 18pts to 6pts thus denying Carlow a bonus point. So far this season Gorey remain unbeaten and still top of a very competitive  league with only one point separating teams between first and third.

Gorey travel to Clane next Sunday K.O. 2.30 pm.

Team  1. Edward Warren 2. Barry O'Connor 3. Ciaran Allen 4. Darragh O'Leary 5. Adrian Copeland 6. Michael Woods 7. Ben Horan 8. Paul Redmond 9. Aidan O'Brien 10. Stephen Duke 11. John Condren 12. James Nolan 13. Paul Clince 14. Darren Dunne 15. Neville Copeland 16. Ciaran Smith 17. Fergal Bolger 18. Jason Emery 19. Jordan Ahern 20. Robert Harrington.