GOREY PULL AWAY AT TOP OF TABLE
02/12/2013
North Kildare 8 Gorey 17
Leinster League Division 2a
At the Maws Kilcock
Gorey J1's travelled to Kilcock, North Kildare on Sunday last to take on a vastly improving North Kildare side who are second in the table, 3 points behind table toppers Gorey RFC. Gorey who are still unbeaten in this league were looking to put a bit of a gap between themselves and North Kildare, with the chasing pack following closely behind.
The nature of this Division 2a has meant that nearly every week Gorey has had to endure a tough encounter, and with this weekend's results going their way, it creates a bit of breathing space for themselves at the top of the table.
This game started the way we all expected with North Kildare going straight at Gorey putting them under some pressure and they missed two penalties in the first quarter.
Gorey struggled to get a foot hold on this game at the early stages, when North Kildare had a scrum 5 metres from Gorey's try line and were putting them under serious pressure, Gorey's defence held out and they were awarded a penalty for an infringement, this seemed to be the turning point of the game.
From here on in Gorey stepped up a gear and after a missed pentaly Adrain Copeland ran in a well constructed try in the corner. North Kildare returned to the play and with hard fought battles at the break down got a penalty of their own which they put over. Not long before the break James Nolan replied with a penalty of his own after another infringement.. This brought the score to 8 points for Gorey and 3 points to North Kildare at the half time
The second half resumed with much of the same a game of crunching tackles hard fought break down battles and penalties. Gorey's scrum was a mixed bag but they fared much better at the line out. James Nolan converted three long range penalties for a mixture of infringements and North Kildare finished with a try in the corner which they falied to convert, to bring the final score to 17 points to 8 points in favour of Gorey and brought to a finish a tough physical game. Gorey could have pulled away on a number of occasions and put up some score line but at vital stages the play broke down.To my mind this side with its mixture of youth and experience has yet to show its full potential and I would not like to be on the loosing side when they do click.
They do however still top Division 2a with a 7 point cushion and remain unbeaten. They now face Portloise at home next Sunday.
Team : 1. Edward Warren 2. Barry O'Connor 3. Ciaran Allen 4. Jason Emery 5. Adrian Copeland 6. Jordan Ahern 7. Ben Horan 8. Paul Redmond 9. Robert Harrington 10. Stephen Duke 11. John Condren 12. James Nolan 13. Paul Clince 14. Darren Dunne 15. Neville Copeland 16. Adain O' Brien 17. Fergal Bolger 18 . Micheal Woods 19. Matt Bater 20. Phil Horan